John Calvin Commentary Psalms 128:2

"For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." — Psalms 128:2 (ASV)

For when you shall eat the labor of your hands you shall be blessed. Some divide this sentence into two parts, reading these words, For you shall eat the labor of your hands, as a distinct sentence, and then what follows, You shall be blessed, as the beginning of a new sentence.

I indeed grant that it is true, as they assert, that the grace of God, manifested in the faithful enjoying the fruits of their labor, is set in opposition to the curse to which all mankind has been subjected. But it is more natural to read the words as one sentence, bringing out this meaning: that God’s children are happy in eating the fruits of their labor. For if we make them two sentences, these words, you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you, would contain a cold and even an insipid repetition.

Here the Prophet, confirming the doctrine stated in the first verse, teaches us that we ought to form a different estimate of what happiness consists in from that formed by the world, which makes a happy life consist in ease, honors, and great wealth. He recalls God’s servants to the practice of moderation, which almost all men refuse to exercise.

How few are to be found who, if it were left to their own choice, would desire to live by their own labor; indeed, who would account it a singular benefit to do so! No sooner is the name of happiness pronounced, than instantly every man breaks forth into the most extravagant ideas of what is necessary to it, so insatiable a gulf is the covetousness of the human heart.

The Prophet therefore instructs those who fear God to be content with this one thing: with the assurance that having God for their foster-father, they shall be suitably maintained by the labor of their own hands, just as it is said in Psalm 34:10,

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

We must remember that the Prophet does not speak of the highest blessedness, which does not consist in meat and drink, nor is confined within the narrow bounds of this transitory life. But he assures God’s believing people that even in this pilgrimage or earthly place of sojourn they shall enjoy a happy life, insofar as the state of the world will permit; even as Paul declares that God promises both these to those who fear him—in other words, that God will take care of us during the whole course of our life, until He has at last brought us to eternal glory (1 Timothy 4:8).

The change of person also serves to give greater emphasis to the language. For after having spoken in the third person, the Prophet comes to address his discourse to each individual in particular, to this effect: Not only does immortal felicity await you in heaven, but during your pilgrimage in this world God will not cease to perform the office of the father of a family in maintaining you, so that your daily food will be administered to you by His hand, provided you are contented with a lowly condition.