Psalm 127
World English Bible
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.
2 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.
3 Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh.
The fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,
so are the children of youth.
5 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.
Psalm 127
International Standard Version
A Solomonic Song of Ascents
God’s Blessing in the Family
127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
its builders labor uselessly.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
its security forces keep watch uselessly.
2 It is useless to get up early
and to stay up late,[a]
eating the food of exhausting labor—
truly he gives sleep to those he loves.
3 Children[b] are a gift[c] from the Lord;
a productive womb, the Lord’s[d] reward.
4 As arrows in the hand of a warrior,
so also are children[e] born during one’s[f] youth.
5 How blessed[g] is the man whose quiver is full of them!
He[h] will not be ashamed
as they confront their enemies at the city gate.
Footnotes
- Psalm 127:2 Lit. delay sitting
- Psalm 127:3 Lit. Sons
- Psalm 127:3 Lit. heritage
- Psalm 127:3 The Heb. lacks Lord’s
- Psalm 127:4 Lit. sons
- Psalm 127:4 The Heb. lacks born during one’s
- Psalm 127:5 Or happy
- Psalm 127:5 Lit. They
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