1 Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.

1 שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּֽעֲלֹ֗ות לִשְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה אִם־יְהוָ֤ה׀ לֹא־יִבְנֶ֬ה בַ֗יִת שָׁ֤וְא׀ עָמְל֣וּ בֹונָ֣יו בֹּ֑ו אִם־יְהוָ֥ה לֹֽא־יִשְׁמָר־עִ֝֗יר שָׁ֤וְא׀ שָׁקַ֬ד שֹׁומֵֽר׃

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; `For' so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.

2 שָׁ֤וְא לָכֶ֨ם׀ מַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵי ק֡וּם מְאַֽחֲרֵי־שֶׁ֗בֶת אֹ֭כְלֵי לֶ֣חֶם הָעֲצָבִ֑ים כֵּ֤ן יִתֵּ֖ן לִֽידִידֹ֣ו שֵׁנָֽא׃

3 Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; `And' the fruit of the womb is `his' reward.

3 הִנֵּ֤ה נַחֲלַ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה בָּנִ֑ים כָ֗ר פְּרִ֣י הַבָּֽטֶן׃

4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth.

4 כְּחִצִּ֥ים בְּיַד־גִּבֹּ֑ור כֵּ֝֗ן בְּנֵ֣י הַנְּעוּרִֽים׃

5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 128 A Song of Ascents.

5 אַשְׁרֵ֤י הַגֶּ֗בֶר אֲשֶׁ֤ר מִלֵּ֥א אֶת־אַשְׁפָּתֹ֗ו מֵ֫הֶ֥ם לֹֽא־יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ כִּֽי־יְדַבְּר֖וּ אֶת־אֹויְבִ֣ים בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃