Psalms 127

1 The song of greces of Salomon. `No but the Lord bilde the hous; thei that bilden it han trauelid in veyn. No but the Lord kepith the citee; he wakith in veyn that kepith it.

A Song of Ascents. By Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, they who build it labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.

2 It is veyn to you to rise bifore the liyt; rise ye after that ye han sete, that eten the breed of sorewe. Whanne he schal yyue sleep to his loued; lo!

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.

3 the eritage of the Lord `is sones, the mede is the fruyt of wombe.

Behold, children are a heritage of the LORD. The fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arowis ben in the hond of the miyti; so the sones of hem that ben schakun out.

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

5 Blessid is the man, that hath fillid his desier of tho; he schal not be schent, whanne he schal speke to hise enemyes in the yate.

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.