Psalms 127 A Song of the steps. Unless the Lord build the house, the builders have laboured in vain. Unless the Lord guard the city, in vain hath the watchman watched;

Thomson⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ A Song of the steps. Unless the Lord build the house, the builders have laboured in vain. Unless the Lord guard the city, in vain hath the watchman watched; ² in vain is your early rising. Ye who eat the bread of care, rise when you have rested; when he hath given his beloved sleep. ³ Behold sons are an heritage of the Lord; a reward of the fruit of the womb. ⁴ Like shafts in the hands of a mighty man, so are the sons of them who were shaken off. ⁵ Happy he who shall satisfy his desire with these. They shall not be put to shame, when they speak to their enemies in the gates.