1 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.
2 It 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.
3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5 Happy 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.
<html><b>A song of ascents about Solomon</b> This song David recited about his son, Solomon, for he saw through the holy spirit that he [Solomon] was destined to build the Temple, and on that very day, Solomon would marry Pharaoh’s daughter, and concerning this was said (Jer. 32:31): “For this city has aroused My anger and My wrath since the day they built it.” Therefore, he recited this song. My son, why should you build a house and turn away from following the Omnipresent? Since He does not desire it, its workers have toiled at it in vain. <b>[its] watcher keeps his vigil in vain</b> The watchman watches it in vain.</html>
<html><b>It is futile for you</b> The craftsmen, who rise early and stay late at their work and sustain themselves with toil and labor, with bread of toil, [i.e.,] of the toil of work. <b>so will the Lord give</b> The Holy One, blessed be He, [will give] sustenance to him who banishes his sleep from his eyes in order to engage in the Torah. <b>to one who banishes sleep</b> Heb. לידידו שנא. to one who banishes (מנדד) sleep from his eyes.</html>
<html><b>Behold, the heritage of the Lord</b> for that man [who banishes sleep from his eyes]. <b>sons</b> These are the disciples whom he sets up, who are to him like sons. <b>the reward is the fruit of the innards</b> The reward is the fruit of the Torah that is in his heart as it is said (Prov. 22:18): “For it is pleasant that you guard them in your innards.”</html>
<html><b>Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man</b> with which to battle his enemies. <b>so are the sons of one’s youth</b> The disciples that a man sets up in his youth.</html>
<html><b>Praiseworthy is the man who has filled his quiver</b> with those arrows. אשפה is the arrowcase, called cuyvre in Old French. <b>they will not be ashamed when they talk to the enemies in the gate</b> Torah scholars who defeat one another in halachah and appear as enemies to one another (addendum).</html>