< Psalmorum 127 >
1 Canticum graduum Salomonis. Nisi Dominus ædificaverit domum, in vanum laboraverunt qui ædificant eam. Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem, frustra vigilat qui custodit eam.
“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 Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere: surgite postquam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum.
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 Ecce hereditas Domini filii: merces, fructus ventris.
Lo, children are an inheritance from the Lord: a reward is the fruit of the body.
4 Sicut sagittæ in manu potentis: ita filii excussorum.
Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.
5 Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis: non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta.
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.