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!

1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you that ye rise up early, and so late take rest, and eat the bread of toil: for so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: 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 ashamed, when they speak with their enemies in the gate.