1 Except the Lord the house doth make,
And thereunto doth set his hand,
What men do build it cannot stand.
Likewise in vaine men undertake,
Cities and holds to watch and ward,
Except the Lord be their safeguard.

2 Though ye rise early in the morne,
And so at night go late to bed,
Feeding full hardly with brown bread
Yet were your labour lost and worne:
But they whom God doth love and keep,
Receive all things with quiet sleep.

3 Therefore mark well when ever ye see,
That men have heires to enjoy their land
It is the gift of Gods own hand.
For God himselfe doth multiply,
Of his great liberality,
The blessing of posterity.

4 And when the children come to age,
They grow in strength and activeness,
In person and in comelinesse:
So that a shaft shot with courage,
Of one that hath a most strong arm,
Flies not so swift, nor doth like harm.

5 O well is he that hath his quiver
Furnish'd with such artillerie:
For when in perill he shall be,
Such one shall never quake or shiver,
When that he plead sbefore the Judge,
Against his foes that beare him grudge.