Scripture Verse

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­ter­ian Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 359.

Music: Il­la Lo­well Ma­son, 1841 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
Lowell Mason (1792–1872)

Lyrics

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.