< Psalms 127 >

1 “A song of the degrees for Solomon.” Unless the Lord do build the house, in vain labor they that build on it: unless the Lord guard the city, in vain is the watchman wakeful.
A Song of Ascents. By Solomon. Unless Yahweh builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.
2 It is in vain for you to be early in rising, to be late in sitting up, eating the bread of painful toils; [for] so doth he give unto his beloved during sleep.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.
3 Lo, children are an inheritance from the Lord: a reward is the fruit of the body.
Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.
As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver filled with them: they shall not be put to shame, when they do speak with the enemies in the gate.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

< Psalms 127 >