127 ⁽⁰⁾ A song of ascents. By Shlomo:

⁽¹⁾ Unless Adonai builds the house,
its builders work in vain.
Unless Adonai guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.

² In vain do you get up early
and put off going to bed,
working hard to earn a living;
for he provides for his beloved,
even when they sleep.
³ Children too are a gift from Adonai;
the fruit of the womb is a reward.
⁴ The children born when one is young.
are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
⁵ How blessed is the man
who has filled his quiver with them;
he will not have to be embarrassed
when contending with foes at the city gate.