1 Except Jehovah build the house,

They labor in vain that build it:

Except Jehovah keep the city,

The watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

To take rest late,

To eat the bread of toil;

For so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah;

And 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 that hath his quiver full of them:

They shall not be put to shame,

When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

1 A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked.

2 Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep.

3 Lo, an inheritance of Jehovah [are] sons, A reward [is] the fruit of the womb.

4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty one, So [are] the sons of the young men.

5 O the happiness of the man Who hath filled his quiver with them, They are not ashamed, For they speak with enemies in the gate!