¹ Unless the Lord builds a house,
    the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
    guarding it with sentries will do no good.
² It is useless for you to work so hard
    from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
    for God gives rest to his loved ones.

³ Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.
⁴ Children born to a young man
    are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
⁵ How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
    He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.

¹ How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
    all who follow his ways!
² You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
    How joyful and prosperous you will be!
³ Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
    flourishing within your home.
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
    as they sit around your table.
⁴ That is the Lord’s blessing
    for those who fear him.

⁵ May the Lord continually bless you from Zion.
    May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live.
⁶ May you live to enjoy your grandchildren.
    May Israel have peace!

¹ From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me.
    Let all Israel repeat this:
² From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me,
    but they have never defeated me.
³ My back is covered with cuts,
    as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
⁴ But the Lord is good;
    he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly.

⁵ May all who hate Jerusalem^[a]
    be turned back in shameful defeat.
⁶ May they be as useless as grass on a rooftop,
    turning yellow when only half grown,
⁷ ignored by the harvester,
    despised by the binder.
⁸ And may those who pass by
    refuse to give them this blessing:
“The Lord bless you;
    we bless you in the Lord’s name.”