¹ If the Lord doesn’t build a house,
the work of the builders is useless.
If the Lord doesn’t watch over a city,
it’s useless for those on guard duty to stand watch over it.
² It’s useless for you to work from early morning
until late at night
just to get food to eat.
God provides for those he loves even while they sleep.

³ Children are a gift from the Lord.
They are a reward from him.
⁴ Children who are born to people when they are young
are like arrows in the hands of a soldier.
⁵ Blessed are those
who have many children.
They won’t be put to shame
when they go up against their enemies in court.