1 A Song of Ascents; of Solomon. Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- A Song H7892 (שִׁיר) — a song; abstractly, singing
- of degrees H4609 (מַעֲלָה) — elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grade-mar…
- for Solomon H8010 (שְׁלֹמֹה) — Shelomah, David's successor
- Except Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
- build H1129 (בָּנָה) — to build (literally and figuratively)
- the house H1004 (בַּיִת) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
- they labour H5998 (עָמַל) — to toil, i.e. work severely and with irksomeness
- in vain H7723 (שָׁוְא) — evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also…
- that build H1129 (בָּנָה) — to build (literally and figuratively)
- it: except Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
- keep H8104 (שָׁמַר) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
- the city H5892 (עִיר) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
- the watchman H8104 (שָׁמַר) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
- waketh H8245 (שָׁקַד) — to be alert, i.e. sleepless; hence to be on the lookout (whether for good or ill)
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; For so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- vain H7723 (שָׁוְא) — evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also…
- for you to rise up H6965 (קוּם) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
- early H7925 (שָׁכַם) — literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning
- to sit up H3427 (יָשַׁב) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
- late H309 (אָחַר) — to loiter (i.e. be behind); by implication to procrastinate
- to eat H398 (אָכַל) — to eat (literally or figuratively)
- the bread H3899 (לֶחֶם) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
- of sorrows H6089 (עֶצֶב) — an earthen vessel; usually (painful) toil; also a pang (whether of body or mind)
- so he giveth H5414 (נָתַן) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
- his beloved H3039 (יְדִיד) — loved
- sleep H8142 (שֵׁנָה) — sleep
3 Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; And the fruit of the womb is his reward.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Lo, children H1121 (בֵּן) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,…
- an heritage H5159 (נַחֲלָה) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
- of Yhwh H3068 (יְהֹוָה) — (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God
- the fruit H6529 (פְּרִי) — fruit (literally or figuratively)
- of the womb H990 (בֶּטֶן) — the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything
- reward H7939 (שָׂכָר) — payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare, maintenance; by implication, compensation, benefit
4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- As arrows H2671 (חֵץ) — properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunder-bolt; the shaft of a spear
- in the hand H3027 (יָד) — a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of a…
- of a mighty man H1368 (גִּבּוֹר) — powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant
- children H1121 (בֵּן) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition,…
- of the youth H5271 (נָעוּר) — (only in plural collective or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the persons (young people)
5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate.Cross references & Strong's
Strong's numbers (from RLT):- Happy H835 (אֶשֶׁר) — happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!
- the man H1397 (גֶּבֶר) — properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply
- that hath his quiver H827 (אַשְׁפָּה) — a quiver or arrow-case
- full H4390 (מָלֵא) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
- of them: they shall not be ashamed H954 (בּוּשׁ) — properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
- but they shall speak H1696 (דָבַר) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
- with the enemies H341 (אֹיֵב) — hating; an adversary
- in the gate H8179 (שַׁעַר) — an opening, i.e. door or gate