Psalms 127

1 A Song of the going up. Of Solomon. If the Lord is not helping the builders, then the building of a house is to no purpose: if the Lord does not keep the town, the watchman keeps his watch for nothing.

“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.

2 It is of no use for you to get up early, and to go late to your rest, with the bread of sorrow for your food; for the Lord gives to his loved ones in sleep.

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.

3 See, sons are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the body is his reward.

Lo, children are an inheritance from the Lord: a reward is the fruit of the body.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young.

Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.

5 Happy is the man who has a good store of them; he will not be put to shame, but his cause will be supported by them against his haters.

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.