Psalm 127:title–5

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

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.

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds the house,

the builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the guards stand watch in vain.

In vain you rise early

and stay up late,

toiling for food to eat—

for he grants sleep to those he loves.

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.

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds a house,

its builders labor over it in vain;

unless the Lord watches over a city,

the watchman stays alert in vain.

In vain you get up early and stay up late,

working hard to have enough food—

yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.

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.

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.

Unless the Lord builds a house,

the work of the builders is wasted.

Unless the Lord protects a city,

guarding it with sentries will do no good.

It is useless for you to work so hard

from early morning until late at night,

anxiously working for food to eat;

for God gives rest to his loved ones.

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.

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless Yahweh builds a house,

its builders labor at it in vain.

Unless Yahweh guards a city,

a guard watches in vain.

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

eating the bread of anxious toil,

when thus he provides for his beloved in his sleep.

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.

A Song of degrees for Solomon.

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late,

To eat the bread of sorrows:

For so he giveth his beloved sleep.

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.