Nisi Dominus.
Nothing can be done without God’s grace and blessing.
A gradual canticle of Solomon.
126:1. Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build
it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.
126:2. It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have
sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to
his beloved,
It is vain for you to rise before light.... That is, your early rising,
your labour and worldly solicitude, will be vain, that is, will avail
you nothing, without the light, grace, and blessing of God.
126:3. Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the
fruit of the womb.
126:4. As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them
that have been shaken.
126:5. Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he
shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate.