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 Ascents; of Solomon. Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but 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 up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; [For] so he giveth unto 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 Jehovah; [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 in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of 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 put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.