Psalms 127 ASV
Summary: A Song of Ascents attributed to Solomon, opening with a proverb-like reflection on human effort's dependence on God: "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" (v. 1), extending this to anxious labor generally, since God "giveth his beloved sleep" (v. 2). It shifts to praise children as a divine gift and defense: "children are an heritage of the LORD... as arrows are in the hand of a mighty man" (v. 3-4), closing that the man with a full quiver of them "shall not be ashamed" when facing adversaries in the gate.
1A Song of Ascents; of Solomon. Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.
2It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; For so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.
3Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; And 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 that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.
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