6 or “look.”
7 Some prefer to translate this term with the gender neutral “children,” but “sons” are plainly in view here, as the following verses make clear. Daughters are certainly wonderful additions to a family, but in ancient Israelite culture sons were the “arrows” that gave a man security in his old age, for they could defend the family interests at the city gate, where the legal and economic issues of the community were settled.
8 Heb “like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so [are] sons of youth.” Arrows are used in combat to defend oneself against enemies; sons are viewed here as providing social security and protection (see v. 5). The phrase “sons of youth” is elliptical, meaning “sons [born during the father’s] youth.” Such sons will have grown up to be mature adults and will have children of their own by the time the father reaches old age and becomes vulnerable to enemies. Contrast the phrase “son of old age” in Gen 37:3 (see also 44:20), which refers to Jacob’s age when Joseph was born.
9 Being “put to shame” is here metonymic for being defeated, probably in a legal context, as the reference to the city gate suggests. One could be humiliated (Ps 69:12) or deprived of justice (Amos 5:12) at the gate, but with strong sons to defend the family interests this was less likely to happen.
10 Heb “speak with.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one’s youth.

Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Children are a heritage from the Lord,

offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame

when they contend with their opponents in court.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,

offspring, a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the sons born in one’s youth.

Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them.

They will never be put to shame

when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.

NLTNew Living Translation

Children are a gift from the Lord;

they are a reward from him.

Children born to a young man

are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.

How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!

He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Look, children are the heritage of Yahweh;

the fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

so are the children of one’s youth.

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them.

They shall not be put to shame

when they speak with enemies at the gate.

KJV 1900King James Version

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord:

And the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

So are children of the youth.

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.

Public Domain