Psalms 127

1 If the Lord is not helping the builders, then the building of a house is to no purpose: if the Lord does not keep the town, the watchman keeps his watch for nothing.

1A gradual canticle. Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.

1 Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain:

2It is of no use for you to get up early, and to go late to your rest, with the bread of sorrow for your food; for the Lord gives to his loved ones in sleep.

2For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of sorrows: so to his beloved one he giveth sleep.

3See, sons are a heritage from the Lord; the fruit of the body is his reward.

3Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.

3 Lo, children are an inheritance from Jehovah, [and] the fruit of the womb a reward.

4Like arrows in the hand of a man of war, are the children of the young.

4Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.

5Happy is the man who has a good store of them; he will not be put to shame, but his cause will be supported by them against his haters.

5May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

5 Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them. They shall not be ashamed when they speak with enemies in the gate.

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6And mayst thou see thy children's children, peace upon Israel.

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