Psalm 127–128

Psalm 127

A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of Solomon.

¹If the Lord doesn’t build a house,

the work of its builders is useless.

If the Lord doesn’t watch over a city,

it’s useless for those on guard duty to stand watch over it.

²It’s useless for you to work from early morning

until late at night

just to get food to eat.

God provides for those he loves even while they sleep.

³Children are a gift from the Lord.

They are a reward from him.

⁴Children who are born to people when they are young

are like arrows in the hands of a soldier.

⁵Blessed are those

who have many children.

They won’t be put to shame

when they go up against their enemies in court.

Psalm 128

A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord.

¹Blessed are all those who have respect for the Lord.

They live as he wants them to live.

²Your work will give you what you need.

Blessings and good things will come to you.

³As a vine bears a lot of fruit,

so your wife will have many children by you.

They will sit around your table

like young olive trees.

⁴Only a man who has respect for the Lord

will be blessed like that.

⁵May the Lord bless you from Zion.

May you enjoy the good things that come to Jerusalem

all the days of your life.

⁶May you live to see your grandchildren.

May Israel enjoy peace.