Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

127 (Shir HaMa’alot, of Shlomo). Except Hashem build the bais, they that build it labor in vain; except Hashem is shomer over the city, the shomair (watchman) stands guard in vain.

² It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the lechem ha’atzavim (bread of toils); for so He giveth his beloved sleep.

³ Hinei, banim are nachalat Hashem; and the p’ri habeten is a zachar (reward).

⁴ As khitzim (arrows) are in the yad of a gibbor; so are bnei haneurim (children born in one’s youth).

⁵ Ashrei hagever that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the oyevim basha’ar (enemy at the gate).

¹⁶ And moreover I saw under the shemesh that in the Mekom Mishpat (place of judgment) resha (wickedness) was there; and in the Mekom Tzedek, resha (wickedness) was there.

¹⁷ I said in mine lev, HaElohim shall judge the tzaddik and the resha (wicked); for an et (season) for every matter and for every ma’aseh is there.

¹⁸ I said in mine lev, As for bnei haAdam, HaElohim tests them, that they might see that they themselves are like beheimah.

¹⁹ For bnei haAdam and beheimah share one and same mikreh (fortune); as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that the adam hath no advantage above the beheimah; for all is hevel.

²⁰ All go unto mekom echad; all are of the afahr (dust), and all return to the afahr again.

²¹ Who hath da’as of the ruach bnei haAdam that goeth upward, and the ruach habeheimah that goeth downward to ha’aretz [see 12:7]?

²² Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better than that the adam find simchah in his ma’asim; for that is his chelek; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

4 So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the shemesh, and, hinei, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no menachem (comforter); and on the side of their oppressors there was ko’ach (power); but they had no menachem (comforter).

² Wherefore I praised the mesim which are already dead more than the living ones which are yet alive.

³ Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the ma’aseh harah that is done under the shemesh.

⁴ Again, I considered all amal, and every kishron hama’aseh (skillful achievement), that such is a simple derivative of kinat ish meirei’eihu (the envy of man of his neighbor). This also is hevel, a chasing after ruach.

⁵ The kesil foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own basar.

⁶ Better is a handful with tranquility than both the hands full with amal and chasing after ruach.

⁷ Then I returned, and I saw under the shemesh this hevel:

⁸ There was a man all alone, and there was with him neither ben nor ach (brother); yet there was no ketz (end) to all his amal; neither was his ayin satisfied with osher (riches); neither saith he, For whom do I toil, and deprive my nefesh of tovah? This also is hevel, yea, it is an evil matter.

² Persevere in your tefillos, keeping watch while davening with todot (thanksgiving),

³ Davening together also concerning us, that G-d may open for us a delet for the Besuras HaGeulah, to speak the raz of Moshiach, on account of which also I have been bound with sharsherot (chains).

⁴ Offer this tefillah: that I make known the Besuras HaGeulah as it is necessary for me to speak.

⁵ Walk in chochmah toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

⁶ May your lashon always be with the Chen v’Chesed Hashem, seasoned with melach (salt), so that you may have da’as how it is necessary for you to answer each one.