¹Unless the LORD builds the house ,

they who build it labour in vain .

Unless the LORD watches over the city ,

the watchman guards it in vain .

²It is vain for you to rise up early ,

to stay up late,

eating the bread of toil,

for he gives sleep to his loved ones.

³Behold , children are a heritage of the LORD .

The fruit of the womb is his reward .

⁴As arrows in the hand of a mighty man ,

so are the children of youth .

⁵Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them .

They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate .