Nnwom 127

1 Ɔsoroforɔ dwom. Salomo deɛ. Sɛ Awurade ansi ɛdan no a, adansifoɔ no yɛ ho adwuma kwa. Sɛ Awurade ammɔ kuropɔn no ho ban a, awɛmfoɔ 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 Ɔkwa ara na wosɔre anɔpahema na woyɛ adwumaden brɛ kɔsi anadwo, ansa na woanya wʼano aduane. Ɛyɛ kwa, ɛfiri sɛ, wɔn a ɔdɔ wɔn no, ɔma wɔda.

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 Mmammarima yɛ agyapadeɛ a ɛfiri Awurade hɔ, na mma yɛ akatua a ɛfiri noɔ.

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

4 Mmammarima a wɔwo wɔn mmeranteberɛ 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 kotokuo ayɛ ma. Wɔn anim rengu ase ɛberɛ a wɔahyia wɔn atamfoɔ wɔ kuro ɛpono ano.

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