1 U nless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.

إنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ اللهُ هُوَ بانِي البَيتِ، فَكُلُّ تَعَبِ البَنّائِينَ بِلا فائِدَةٍ! وَإنْ لَمِ يَكُنِ اللهُ هُوَ الَّذِي يَحْرُسُ المَدِينَةَ، فَمُراقَبَةُ الحُرّاسِ بِلا فائِدَةٍ!

2 I t is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

وَلَيَسَتِ الفائِدَةُ فِي الخُرُوجِ باكِراً إلَى العَمَلِ، أو فِي السَّهَرِ مِنْ أجلِ لُقْمَةِ العَيْشِ. فَاللهُ يَعطِي أحِبّاءَهُ راحَةً.

3 B ehold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

الأبناءُ هِبَةٌ مِنَ اللهِ ، مُكافَأةٌ تَأْتِي مِنْ أحشاءِ الأُمِّ.

4 L ike arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.

كَسِهامٍ بِيَدَي مُحارِبٍ هُمُ الأولادُ الَّذِينَ يُرزَقُ المَرءُ بِهِمْ فِي شَبابِهِ.

5 H ow blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed When they speak with their enemies in the gate.

هَنِيئاً لِلمُحارِبِ الَّذِي مَلأ جُعبَتَهُ مِنهُمْ! لَدَى مُواجَهَةِ أعدائِهِمْ عِندَ بابِ المَدِينَةِ لَنْ يُخْزَوا.