A family embraces children at a building site while workers and city watchmen pause to pray

Psalm 127

Darby Translation
Chapter overview
Psalm 127 challenges anxious self-reliance in building, guarding, working, and raising a family. Human effort matters, yet lasting security and legacy are received gifts rather than achievements produced through restless striving alone.
HouseholdWorkChildrenTrust
1Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain:
2It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of sorrows: so to his beloved one he giveth sleep.
3Lo, children are an inheritance from Jehovah, [and] the fruit of the womb a reward.
4As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.
5Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them. They shall not be ashamed when they speak with enemies in the gate.

Darby Translation — Public Domain. Where these translations come from.