A Song of Ascents. By Solomon.

• ¹Unless Yahweh builds the house,
• they labor in vain who build it.

• Unless Yahweh watches over the city,
• the watchman guards it in vain.

• ²It is vain for you to rise up early,
• to stay up late,
• eating the bread of toil;
• for he gives sleep to his loved ones.

• ³Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh.
• The fruit of the womb is his reward.

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

• ⁵Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
• They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.