Salmi 127

1 Se il Signore non costruisce la casa, invano vi faticano i costruttori. Se il Signore non custodisce la città, invano veglia il custode. Canto delle ascensioni. Di Salomone.

If people are building a house without [knowing whether] it is Yahweh’s [will to build it], they are building it in vain. [Similarly], if Yahweh does not protect a city, it is useless for guards/sentries to stay awake [to tell people if their enemies come to attack it].

2 Invano vi alzate di buon mattino, tardi andate a riposare e mangiate pane di sudore: il Signore ne darà ai suoi amici nel sonno.

It is [also] useless to arise very early and go to sleep late at night in order that you can work hard [all day] to [earn money to buy] food, because Yahweh gives food to those whom he loves.

3 Ecco, dono del Signore sono i figli, è sua grazia il frutto del grembo.

Children are a gift [that comes to parents] from Yahweh; they are a reward/blessing from him.

4 Come frecce in mano a un eroe sono i figli della giovinezza.

If a man has sons while he is still young, [when they grow up, they will be able to help him defend his family] like [SIM] a soldier [can defend himself if] he has [a bow and] arrows in his hand.

5 Beato l'uomo che ne ha piena la faretra: non resterà confuso quando verrà a trattare alla porta con i propri nemici.

A man [who has many sons] is [very] happy, like [MET] [a soldier who has many arrows] in his quiver is very happy. If a man [with his many grown sons is taken] by his enemies to the place where they decide matters, his enemies will never be able to defeat that man, [because his sons will help to defend him].