unless the lord the house shall build the weary builders toil in vain unless the lord the city shield the guards a useless watch maintain in vain you rise ere morning break and late your nightly vigils keep and all the bread of toil partake god gives to his beloveds sleep lo children are the gift of god and sons the blessing he commands these whom in youthful days bestowed are like the shafts in warrior s hands and happy they whose quivers bear full store of arrows such as these they in the gate are free from fear and boldly face their enemies