שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת לִשְׁלֹמֹה אִם ה' לֹא יִבְנֶה בַיִת שָׁוְא עָמְלוּ בוֹנָיו בּוֹ אִם ה' לֹא יִשְׁמָר עִיר שָׁוְא שָׁקַד שׁוֹמֵר

A song of ascents, by Solomon, or alternatively, for Solomon. If the Lord does not build a house, the house will collapse, and those who build it labor in vain. If the Lord does not guard a city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil. The city’s defenses will be breached if God does not provide His protection.

שָׁוְא לָכֶם מַשְׁכִּימֵי קוּם מְאַחֲרֵי שֶׁבֶת אֹכְלֵי לֶחֶם הָעֲצָבִים כֵּן יִתֵּן לִידִידוֹ שֵׁנָא

God also determines success or failure in matters involving day-to-day sustenance. This verse describes those who believe that success is a matter of diligence: It is futile, you early risers, getting to work early, and you who linger, working long after everyone else is gone, you who eat the bread of sorrow. They are consumed with planning and worrying, too distracted even to enjoy their food. For surely He grants sleep to His beloved. Those whom God assists are granted a good night’s sleep and still succeed in their everyday affairs, whereas those who are continually obsessed with thoughts and plans may find that those plans all come to naught.

הִנֵּה נַחֲלַת ה'בָּנִים שָׂכָר פְּרִי הַבָּטֶן

This holds true for other things in life that are essentially gifts from God. Truly, children are a portion of the Lord. Children are God’s greatest gift, the one most readily recognized as having been bestowed by God. Reward is the fruit of one’s womb. They are the greatest reward, the most valuable assets one can obtain in this world.

כְּחִצִּים בְּיַד גִּבּוֹר כֵּן בְּנֵי הַנְּעוּרִים

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of youth. The children born to us in our youth are those who shape the future.

אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר מִלֵּא אֶת אַשְׁפָּתוֹ מֵהֶם לֹא יֵבֹשׁוּ כִּי יְדַבְּרוּ אֶת אוֹיְבִים בַּשָּׁעַר

Happy is the man who fills his quiver with them. A man with many children is like a well-armed warrior. They will not be put to shame when they confront enemies at the gate. Their physical numbers will enable them to withstand attack. Moreover, they will have the requisite wisdom to take part in public meetings held at the city gate, in which internal affairs and the best means of combating foes are discussed. The phrase ki yedabberu, translated here as “when they confront,” can also mean “when they speak to.”