1 A song of the degrees for Solomon. Unless the Lord do build the house, in vain labor they that build on it: unless the Lord guard the city, in vain is the watchman wakeful.

2 It is in vain for you to be early in rising, to be late in sitting up, eating the bread of painful toils; for so doth he give unto his beloved during sleep.

3 Lo, children are an inheritance from the Lord: a reward is the fruit of the body.

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

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver filled with them: they shall not be put to shame, when they do speak with the enemies in the gate.