Unless the Lord the House Shall Build

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 be­lov­èd sleep.

Lo

child­ren are a great re­ward

A gift from God in ve­ry truth;

With ar­rows is his qui­ver stored

Who joys in child­ren of his youth.

And blest the man whose age is cheered

By stal­wart sons and daugh­ters fair;

No ene­mies by him are feared

No lack of love

no want of care.