Nisi Dominus. Nothing can be done without God's grace and blessing.

 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.
Canticum graduum Salomonis. Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum, in vanum laboraverunt qui aedificant eam. Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem, frustra vigilat qui custodit eam.

 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,
Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere : surgite postquam sederitis, qui manducatis panem doloris. Cum dederit dilectis suis somnum,

 3 Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb.
ecce haereditas Domini, filii; merces, fructus ventris.

 4 As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken.
Sicut sagittae in manu potentis, ita filii excussorum.

 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.
Beatus vir qui implevit desiderium suum ex ipsis : non confundetur cum loquetur inimicis suis in porta.