¹Kana Jehovha asingavaki imba, Vavaki vayo vanobata pasina; Kana Jehovha asingachengeti guta, Murindi anorindira pasina.

¹{A Song of degrees. Of Solomon.} Unless Jehovah build the house, in vain do its builders labour in it; unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watcheth in vain:

²Hazvina maturo kuti mumuke mangwanani nokunonoka kundovata, Nokudya zvokudya zvamakatamburira; nekuti anopa vadikamwi vake izvozvo vavete.

²It 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.

³Tarirai, vana inhaka inobva kuna Jehovha; Chibereko chechizvaro ndiwo mubayiro waanopa.

³Lo, children are an inheritance from Jehovah, [and] the fruit of the womb a reward.

⁴Semiseve muruoko rwemhare, Ndizvo zvakaita vana voujaya.

⁴As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth.

⁵Unomufaro iye murume anegoba rizere navo; Havanganyadziswi, Kana vachitaurirana navavengi vavo pasuwo.

⁵Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver with them. They shall not be ashamed when they speak with enemies in the gate.