Psalms 127 KJV
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.
1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
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