Psalms 127

1 If people are building a house without [knowing whether] it is Yahweh’s [will to build it], they are building it in vain. [Similarly], if Yahweh does not protect a city, it is useless for guards/sentries to stay awake [to tell people if their enemies come to attack it].

Cantique des montées. De Salomon. Si Yahweh ne bâtit pas la maison, en vain travaillent ceux qui la bâtissent; si Yahweh ne garde pas la cité, en vain la sentinelle veille à ses portes.

2 It is [also] useless to arise very early and go to sleep late at night in order that you can work hard [all day] to [earn money to buy] food, because Yahweh gives food to those whom he loves.

C’est en vain que vous vous levez avant le jour, et que vous retardez votre repos, mangeant le pain de la douleur: il en donne autant à son bien-aimé pendant son sommeil.

3 Children are a gift [that comes to parents] from Yahweh; they are a reward/blessing from him.

Voici, c’est un héritage de Yahweh, que les enfants; une récompense, que les fruits d’un sein fécond.

4 If a man has sons while he is still young, [when they grow up, they will be able to help him defend his family] like [SIM] a soldier [can defend himself if] he has [a bow and] arrows in his hand.

Comme les flèches dans la main d’un guerrier, ainsi sont les fils de la jeunesse.

5 A man [who has many sons] is [very] happy, like [MET] [a soldier who has many arrows] in his quiver is very happy. If a man [with his many grown sons is taken] by his enemies to the place where they decide matters, his enemies will never be able to defeat that man, [because his sons will help to defend him].

Heureux l’homme qui en a rempli son carquois! Ils ne rougiront pas quand ils répondront aux ennemis, à la porte de la ville.