Psalms 127:2

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.

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.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat— for He gives sleep to His beloved.
KJV
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.
WEB
It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.
ASV
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.
DARBY
It is vain for you to rise up early, to lie down late, to eat the bread of sorrows: so to his beloved one he giveth sleep.
BLB
[It is] vain for you⁺, being early [in] rising, [and] delaying to sit, eating the bread of sorrows; for so He gives sleep to His beloved.
ÅB
Det er forgjeves at dere står tidlig opp, setter dere sent ned, spiser møysommelighets brød; det samme gir han sin venn i søvne.
OTB
Det er forgjeves for dere å stå opp tidlig,
Å sitte oppe sent,
Å spise brødet av møysommelige anstrengelser;
For Han gir sine elskede søvn.
B1930
Det er forgjeves at I står tidlig op, setter eder sent ned, eter møisommelighets brød; det samme gir han sin venn i søvne.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references