Psalm 127 :: American Standard Version (ASV)

A Song of Ascents; of Solomon.

Except Jehovah build the house,

They labor in vain that build it:

Except Jehovah keep the city,

The watchman waketh but in vain.

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.

Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah;

And the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,

So are the children of youth.

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.

Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.