1 A Song of the Ascents, by Solomon. If Jehovah doth not build the house, In vain have its builders laboured at it, If Jehovah doth not watch a city, In vain hath a watchman waked.

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

2 Vain for you who are rising early, Who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, So He giveth to His beloved one sleep.

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

3 Lo, an inheritance of Jehovah `are' sons, A reward `is' the fruit of the womb.

3 הִנֵּ֤ה נַחֲלַ֣ת יְהוָ֣ה בָּנִ֑ים כָ֗ר פְּרִ֣י הַבָּֽטֶן׃

4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty one, So `are' the sons of the young men.

4 כְּחִצִּ֥ים בְּיַד־גִּבֹּ֑ור כֵּ֝֗ן בְּנֵ֣י הַנְּעוּרִֽים׃

5 O the happiness of the man Who hath filled his quiver with them, They are not ashamed, For they speak with enemies in the gate!

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