Bellarmine on Psalm 126 : Verse 1

Verse 1

Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.

Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum, in vanum laboraverunt qui aedificant eam.

These words are said to the Jews building the house of God, that is the temple, when the work was not proceeding very well because of the obstructions of the neighbouring gentiles, as is written in Book I of Esdras. They are warned that they should reflect on the fact that men’s works are of no value unless God, the primary builder, is present; and so they should not only work with their hands but they should invoke God in their heart and in the words of their mouth, placing their chief trust in His assistance. “Unless the Lord build the house,” that is, unless the Lord, invoked with trust, is present in their works, “they labour in vain that build it,” that is, all their labour is and will be completed in vain. These same words are also addressed to the heads of the Church who, through preaching the word of God, endeavour to convert men to God, and to incorporate them in building up God’s temple, that is, the Church, as it says in I Corinth. iii: “You are God's building,”[1] and again : “As a wise architect, I have laid the foundation; and another buildeth thereon;”[2] but unless the chief architect is present, who said in Matthew xvi: “Upon this rock I will build my church,”[3] men build in vain, and teachers preach the word of God in vain, for the Lord says : “Without me you can do nothing.”[4] Finally, these same words are addressed to each on of us, who ought to build a home for ourselves in heaven, through acts of faith, hope and charity. for the house of God, as St. Augustine says in serm. 22 De Verbis Apostoli, is founded on faith, is built on hope and is completed in love, and no-one is admitted into the heavenly homeland who has not first prepared such a home. But this house is built more through prayers and lamentations than through building works, because : “Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves.”[5] 

[1] For we are God's coadjutors: you are God's husbandry; you are God's building. Dei enim sumus adjutores : Dei agricultura estis, Dei aedificatio estis. [I Corinth. iii 9]

[2] According to the grace of God that is given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. Secundum gratiam Dei, quae data est mihi, ut sapiens architectus fundamentum posui : alius autem superaedificat. Unusquisque autem videat quomodo superaedificet. [I Corinth. iii 10]

[3] And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Et ego dico tibi, quia tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam.

[4] I am the vine: you the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. Ego sum vitis, vos palmites : qui manet in me, et ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum, quia sine me nihil potestis facere. [John xv 5]

[5]  Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God. non quod sufficientes simus cogitare aliquid a nobis, quasi ex nobis : sed sufficientia nostra ex Deo est : [II Corinth. Iii 5].

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.