א׳
שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת בְּשׁ֣וּב יְ֭הוָה אֶת־שִׁיבַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ כְּחֹלְמִֽים׃
1
A song of ascents.
When the LORD restores the fortunes of Zion
—we see it as in a dream—
1
A Song of Ascents. When the LORD brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream.
בְּשׁוּב ה׳ אֶת שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן. מִגָּלוּת בָּבֶל הָיִינוּ כְּחוֹלְמִים:
When the Lord returns the returnees to Zion from the Babylonian exile, we were like dreamers.
ב׳
אָ֤ז יִמָּלֵ֪א שְׂח֡וֹק פִּינוּ֮ וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֪נוּ רִ֫נָּ֥ה אָ֭ז יֹאמְר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם הִגְדִּ֥יל יְ֝הוָ֗ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִם־אֵֽלֶּה׃
2
our mouths shall be filled with laughter,
our tongues, with songs of joy.
Then shall they say among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them!”
2
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the nations: 'The LORD hath done great things with these.'
ג׳
הִגְדִּ֣יל יְ֭הוָה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּ֗נוּ הָיִ֥ינוּ שְׂמֵחִֽים׃
3
The LORD will do great things for us
and we shall rejoice.
3
The LORD hath done great things with us; we are rejoiced.
ד׳
שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה אֶת־שבותנו [שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ] כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃
4
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like watercourses in the Negeb.
4
Turn our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the dry land.
כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּגֶב. כַּאֲפִיקֵי מַיִם בְּאֶרֶץ יְבֵשָׁה שֶׁמְּלַחְלְחִין אוֹתָהּ, כָּךְ נִהְיֶה מַרְטִיבִין בְּשׁוּבְךָ אֶת שְׁבוּתֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר הַזּוֹרְעִים בָּהּ, בְּאֶרֶץ צִיָּה, בְּדִמְעָה – דּוֹאֲגִים, שֶׁסְּבוּרִים שֶׁמָּא לֹא תִצְמַח, בְּרִנָּה קוֹצְרִין עַל יְדֵי אֲפִיקֵי הַמַּיִם כְּשֶׁהֵם מְשֻׁלָּחִין בָּהּ:
like rivulets in arid land Like rivulets in arid land, which moisten it, so shall we be moistened [freshened] when You return [us from] our captivity, for those who sow in an arid land, with tears, worrying that it will not grow, reap with song through the rivulets of water, when they are directed into it [that land].
ה׳
הַזֹּרְעִ֥ים בְּדִמְעָ֗ה בְּרִנָּ֥ה יִקְצֹֽרוּ׃
5
They who sow in tears
shall reap with songs of joy.
5
They that sow in tears Shall reap in joy.
ו׳
הָ֘ל֤וֹךְ יֵלֵ֨ךְ ׀ וּבָכֹה֮ נֹשֵׂ֪א מֶֽשֶׁךְ־הַ֫זָּ֥רַע בֹּֽ֬א־יָב֥וֹא בְרִנָּ֑ה נֹ֝שֵׂ֗א אֲלֻמֹּתָֽיו׃
6
Though he goes along weeping,
carrying the seed-bag,
he shall come back with songs of joy,
carrying his sheaves.
6
Though he goeth on his way weeping that beareth the measure of seed, He shall come home with joy, bearing his sheaves.
הָלוֹךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכֹה וְגוֹ׳. כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל זוֹרְעִין לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא צְדָקָה בְּדִמְעָה בַּגָּלוּת, וּבְרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ כְּשֶׁתִּשְׁלַם מַשְׂכֻּרְתָּם לֶעָתִיד:
He will go along weeping, etc. So do Israel in exile sow charity in tears, and they will reap it when You pay their reward in the future.