Psalm 127

Modern

Literal

Children Are a Heritage from the LORD

¹A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

Unless the LORD builds the house,

its builders labor in vain;

unless the LORD protects the city,

its watchmen stand guard in vain.

¹A Song of the Ascents. Of Solomon. If YHWH does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor on it; if YHWH does not guard the city, in vain the one guarding keeps watch.

²In vain you rise early

and stay up late,

toiling for bread to eat—

for He gives sleep to His beloved.

²It is vain for you, being early in rising, and delaying to sit, eating the bread of sorrows; for so He gives sleep to His beloved.

³Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD,

and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

³Behold, an inheritance of YHWH are sons, a reward is the fruit of the womb.

⁴Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

so are children born in one’s youth.

⁴Like arrows in the hand of a mighty one, so are the sons of one’s youth.

⁵Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

He will not be put to shame

when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

⁵Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them! He will not be put to shame, but he shall speak with the enemies at the gate.