Psalms 127

1 A SONG OF THE ASCENTS. BY SOLOMON. If YHWH does not build the house, Its builders have labored at it in vain, If YHWH does not watch a city, A watchman has awoken in vain.

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.

2 Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He gives sleep to His beloved one.

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.

3 Behold, sons [are] an inheritance of YHWH, The fruit of the womb [is] a reward.

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

4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty one, So [are] the sons of the young men.

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

5 O the blessedness of the man Who has filled his quiver with them, They are not ashamed, For they speak with enemies in the gate!

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.