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 going up. Of Solomon. If the Lord is not helping the builders, then the building of a house is to no purpose: if the Lord does not keep the town, the watchman keeps his watch for nothing.

2 Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere: surgite postquam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum,

It is of no use for you to get up early, and to go late to your rest, with the bread of sorrow for your food; for the Lord gives to his loved ones in sleep.

3 ecce hæreditas Domini, filii; merces, fructus ventris.

See, sons are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the body is his reward.

4 Sicut sagittæ in manu potentis, ita filii excussorum.

Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young.

5 Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis: non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta.

Happy is the man who has a good store of them; he will not be put to shame, but his cause will be supported by them against his haters.