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

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

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 mighty man, so are the children of youth.

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 that hath his quiver filled with them: they shall not be put to shame, when they do speak with the enemies in the gate.