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.

Unless Adonai builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless Adonai watches over the city, the watchman guards it 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 stay up late, eating the bread of toil; for he gives sleep to his yadid ·beloved· ones.

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

Behold, children are a heritage of Adonai. The fruit of the womb is his 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 who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.