Psalms 127

1 A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked.

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

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

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 Lo, an inheritance of Jehovah [are] sons, A reward [is] the fruit of the womb.

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

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

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

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

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.