Psalm 127

A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of Solomon.

¹If the Lord doesn’t build a house,
    the work of the builders is useless.
If the Lord doesn’t watch over a city,
    it’s useless for those on guard duty to stand watch over it.
²It’s useless for you to work from early morning
    until late at night
just to get food to eat.
    God provides for those he loves even while they sleep.

³Children are a gift from the Lord.
    They are a reward from him.
⁴Children who are born to people when they are young
    are like arrows in the hands of a soldier.
⁵Blessed are those
    who have many children.
They won’t be put to shame
    when they go up against their enemies in court.