Salme 127

1 (Sang til Festrejserne. Af Salomo.) Dersom HERREN ikke bygger huset, er Bygmestrenes Møje forgæves, dersom HERREN ikke vogter Byen, våger Vægteren forgæves.

A Song of Ascents. Solomon’s. If, Yahweh, build not the house, in vain, have the builders of it toiled thereon, If, Yahweh, watch not the city, in vain, hath the watchman kept awake:

2 Det er forgæves, I står årle op og går sent til Ro, ædende Sliddets Brød; alt sligt vil han give sin Ven i Søvne.

Vain for you, —to be early in rising, to be late in lying down, to be eating the bread of wearisome toil, So, would he give his beloved one sleep.

3 Se, Sønner er HERRENs Gave, Livsens Frugt er en Løn.

Lo! an inheritance from Yahweh, are children, A reward, the fruit of the womb:

4 Som Pile i Krigerens Hånd er Sønner, man får i sin Ungdom.

As arrows in the hand of a warrior, so, are the children of young men.

5 Salig den Mand, som fylder sit Kogger med dem; han beskæmmes ej, når han taler med Fjender i Porten.

How happy the man who hath filled his quiver with them! They will not be ashamed, but will speak with enemies in the gate.