1 Unless Yahweh builds the house, They labor in vain who build it. Unless Yahweh watches over the city, The watchman guards it 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 stay up late, Eating the bread of toil; For he gives sleep to his loved ones.

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

3 Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. 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 who has his quiver full of them. They won't be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

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