Nnwom 127

1 Ɔsoroforo dwom. Salomo de. Sɛ Awurade ansi ɔdan no a, adansifo no yɛ ho adwuma kwa. Sɛ Awurade ammɔ kuropɔn no ho ban a, awɛmfo no wɛn kwa.

A Song of degrees. Of Solomon. Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain:

2 Sɛ wosɔre anɔpahema na wotena kosi anadwo, na woyɛ adwumaden pɛ wʼano aduan a, ɛyɛ ɔkwa, efisɛ wɔn a ɔdɔ wɔn no, ɔma wɔn wɔ wɔn nnae mu.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of sorrows: so to his beloved one he giveth sleep.

3 Mma yɛ agyapade a efi Awurade hɔ, na mma yɛ akatua a efi no.

Lo, children are an inheritance from Jehovah, [and] the fruit of the womb a reward.

4 Mma a wɔwo wɔn mmabun bere mu no te sɛ agyan a ɛhyɛ ɔsraani nsam.

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

5 Nhyira ne onipa a nʼagyan kotoku ayɛ ma. Nʼanim rengu ase bere a wahyia nʼatamfo wɔ kurow pon ano no.

Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them. They shall not be ashamed when they speak with enemies in the gate.