Children Are a Heritage from Yahweh

שִׁ֥יר (A Song) הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת (of the Ascents). לִשְׁלֹ֫מֹ֥ה (Of Solomon).

1אִם־ (If) יְהוָ֤ה׀ (YHWH) לֹא־ (not) יִבְנֶ֬ה (does build) בַ֗יִת (the house),

שָׁ֤וְא׀ (in vain) עָמְל֣וּ (labor) בוֹנָ֣יו (its builders) בּ֑וֹ (on it).

אִם־ (If) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH) לֹֽא־ (not) יִשְׁמָר־ (does guard) עִ֝֗יר (the city),

שָׁ֤וְא׀ (in vain) שָׁקַ֬ד (keeps watch) שׁוֹמֵֽר׃ (the one guarding).

2  שָׁ֤וְא (It is vain) לָכֶ֨ם׀ (for you⁺) מַשְׁכִּ֪ימֵי (being early) ק֡וּם (in rising),

מְאַֽחֲרֵי־ (and delaying) שֶׁ֗בֶת (to sit),

אֹ֭כְלֵי (eating) לֶ֣חֶם (the bread) הָעֲצָבִ֑ים (of sorrows);

כֵּ֤ן (for so) יִתֵּ֖ן (He gives) לִֽידִיד֣וֹ (to His beloved) שֵׁנָֽא׃ (sleep).

3  הִנֵּ֤ה (Behold), נַחֲלַ֣ת (an inheritance) יְהוָ֣ה (of YHWH) בָּנִ֑ים (are sons);

שָׂ֝כָ֗ר (a reward) פְּרִ֣י (is the fruit) הַבָּֽטֶן׃ (of the womb).

4  כְּחִצִּ֥ים (Like arrows) בְּיַד־ (in the hand) גִּבּ֑וֹר (of a mighty one),

כֵּ֝֗ן (so) בְּנֵ֣י (are the sons) הַנְּעוּרִֽים׃ (of one’s youth).

5  אַשְׁרֵ֤י (Blessed is) הַגֶּ֗בֶר (the man)

אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) מִלֵּ֥א (had filled) אֶת־ (-) אַשְׁפָּת֗וֹ (his quiver with) מֵ֫הֶ֥ם (them).

לֹֽא־ (Not) יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ (will he be put to shame),

כִּֽי־ (but) יְדַבְּר֖וּ (he shall speak) אֶת־ (with) אוֹיְבִ֣ים (the enemies) בַּשָּֽׁעַר׃ (at the gate).