Psalms 127

1 A Song of Ascents. By Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman guards it 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 up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.

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, children are a heritage of the LORD. 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 in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.

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

5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their 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.