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 for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] 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 sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: [for] so he giveth his beloved sleep.

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

Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.

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

As arrows [are] in the hand of a mighty man; so [are] children of the 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 his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.