Psalm 127

A Prayer for Protection and Prosperity

127A song of ascents. Of Solomon.^a

¹Unless Yahweh builds a house,

its builders labor at it in vain.

Unless Yahweh guards a city,

a guard watches in vain.

²It is in vain for you who rise early and sit late,

eating the bread of anxious toil,

when thus he^b provides^c for his beloved in his sleep.^d

³Look, children^e are the heritage^f of Yahweh;

the fruit of the womb is a reward.

⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

so are the children^g of one’s youth.

⁵Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.^h

They shall not be put to shame

when they speak with enemies at the gate.