Psalms 127

1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD shall build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD shall keep the city, the watchman waketh 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 [It is] vain for you to rise early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved 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 Lo, children [are] a heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

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

4 As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man: so [are] children of the youth.

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

5 Happy [is] the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the 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.