Psalm 127

The Blessing of the Lord

A Solomonic song of ascents.

1 Unless the Lord builds a house, its builders labor over it in vain; unless the Lord watches over a city, the watchman stays alert in vain.
2 In vain you get up early and stay up late, eating food earned by hard work; certainly He gives sleep to the one He loves.
3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, children, a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth.
5 Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. Such men will never be put to shame when they speak with [their] enemies at the city gate.