Text: Nisi Dominus aedificaverit

Franz Tunder (1614–1667)

Original Text	English Translation

Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum, in vanum laboraverunt, qui aedificant eam. Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem, frustra vigilat, qui custodit eam. Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere: surgite, post quam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum. Ecce haereditas Domini filii, meroes fructus ventris. Sicut sagittae in manu potentis, ita filii excussorum. Beatus vir, qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis: Non confundetur, cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta. Gloria patri et filio et spiritui sancto. Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper et in saecula saeculorum, Amen.	If the Lord does not build the house, in vain those that build it will toil. If the Lord does not guard the city, in vain the watchmen will guard it. In vain you get up before dawn, and sit up late, eating the bread of toils for He provides for his beloved as they sleep. Sons are a heritage of the Lord and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man are the sons of the young. Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them; he will not be bested as his sons barter at the city gate. Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be; world without end, Amen.