Unless the Lord Builds the House

127 A Song of mAscents. Of Solomon.

1  Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord xwatches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

2  It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious ytoil;

for he gives to his zbeloved asleep.

3  Behold, bchildren are a heritage from the Lord,

cthe fruit of the womb a reward.

4  Like arrows in the hand of da warrior

are the children1 of one’s youth.

5  Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies ein the gate.2

Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord

128 A Song of mAscents.

1  fBlessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

who gwalks in his ways!

2  You hshall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3  Your wife will be like ia fruitful vine

within your house;

your children will be like jolive shoots

around your table.

4  Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

who fears the Lord.

5  kThe Lord bless you lfrom Zion!

May you see mthe prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life!

6  May you see your nchildren’s children!

oPeace be upon Israel!

They Have Afflicted Me from My Youth

129 A Song of mAscents.

1  “Greatly1 have they pafflicted me qfrom my youth”—

rlet Israel now say—

2  “Greatly have they pafflicted me qfrom my youth,

syet they have not prevailed against me.

3  tThe plowers plowed uupon my back;

they made long their furrows.”

4  The Lord is righteous;

he has cut vthe cords of the wicked.

5  May all who hate Zion

be wput to shame and turned backward!

6  Let them be like xthe grass on the housetops,

which ywithers before it grows up,

7  with which the reaper does not fill his hand

nor the binder of sheaves his arms,

8  nor do those who pass by say,

a“The blessing of the Lord be upon you!

We bbless you in the name of the Lord!”