1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor uselessly. Unless the LORD guards the city, its security forces keep watch uselessly.
2 It is useless to get up early and to stay up late, eating the food of exhausting labor truly he gives sleep to those he loves.
3 Children are a gift from the LORD; a productive womb, the LORD's reward.
4 As arrows in the hand of a warrior, so also are children born during one's youth.
5 How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be ashamed as they confront their enemies at the city gate. A Song of Ascents