Unless Jehovah builds the house

1 Unless JEHOVAH builds the house,
vain is the workman's pain:
Unless the LORD the city keeps,
the watchmen watch in vain;
2 'Tis vain for you to rise betimes,
and late from rest to keep,
Or eat the bread of care: 'tis He
gives his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage,
the LORD alone bestows:
Posterity is a reward
which from his bounty flows.
4 As arrows in a mighty hand
when enemies are near;
So children grown up in their youth
to their glad parents are.

5 How happy is the man who hath
his quiver full of those!
For he undaunted in the gate,
will speak to all his foes.


Source: The Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New Testament, faithfully translated into English Metre: being the New-England Psalm-Book, revised and improved... (2nd ed.) #PCXXVII