1 Except the Lord build the house,those who build labor in vain;except the Lord guards the city,the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain for you to rise up early,to stay up late,and to eat the bread of hard toil,for He gives sleep to His beloved.
3 Look, children are a gift of the Lord,and the fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior,so are the children of one’s youth.
5 Happy is the manwho has his quiver full of them;he shall not be ashamedwhen he speaks with the enemies at the gate.