Psalms 127

1 Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.

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

2 It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his beloved,

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

3 Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb.

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

4 As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken.

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

5 Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his 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.