Psalms
Chapter 127
This short psalm says that work, protection, and family all depend on God. Building a house or guarding a city is useless without Him, and so is wearing yourself out with worry. The psalm then calls children a gift from God and pictures them as arrows in a warrior's hand.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
1If the LORD does not build the house, the builders work for nothing. If the LORD does not guard the city, the watchman stays awake for nothing.
2It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
2It is useless to get up early and stay up late, working hard for the bread you eat. God gives rest to the people He loves.
"The bread of sorrows" means food earned by painful, anxious work.
3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
3Look: children are a gift the LORD hands down to you. A baby is a reward from Him.
4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
4Children born to you while you are young are like arrows in a strong soldier's hand.
5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
5The man whose quiver is full of them is happy. He will not be shamed when he faces his enemies at the city gate.
A quiver is the case a soldier carries his arrows in. The city gate was where townspeople settled arguments and legal cases, so "speak with the enemies in the gate" means standing up to opponents in public.
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