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 of the bread of toil partake God gives to his beloved, sleep. Lo, children are the gift of God (Lo, children are the gift of God) And sons the blessing he commands These when in youthful days bestowed Are like the shafts in warrior's hands (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