Psalms 127

1 A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked.

A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.

2 Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep.

[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, an inheritance of Jehovah [are] sons, A reward [is] the fruit of the womb.

Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty one, So [are] the sons of the young men.

As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the youth.

5 O the happiness of the man Who hath filled his quiver with them, They are not ashamed, For they speak with enemies in the gate!

Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.