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A Song of Ascents. By Solomon.

127 Unless Yahweh builds the house,
    they who build it labor in vain.
Unless Yahweh watches over the city,
    the watchman guards it in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
    to stay up late,
    eating the bread of toil,
    for he gives sleep to his loved ones.
Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh.
    The fruit of the womb is his reward.
As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,
    so are the children of youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
    They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Unless the Lord Builds the House

A Song of (A)Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord (B)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 (C)toil;
    for he gives to his (D)beloved (E)sleep.

Behold, (F)children are a heritage from the Lord,
    (G)the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of (H)a warrior
    are the children[a] 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 (I)in the gate.[b]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 127:4 Or sons
  2. Psalm 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate