TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 132

Translation and Transliteration of 

1A song of ascents. Hashem, remember in David's favor his extreme self-denial,

אשִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת זְכוֹר־יְהֹוָה לְדָוִד אֵת כָּל־עֻנּוֹתוֹ׃

2how he swore to Hashem, vowed to the Mighty One of Yaakov,

באֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַיהֹוָה נָדַר לַאֲבִיר יַעֲקֹב׃

3“I will not enter my house, nor will I mount my bed,

גאִם־אָבֹא בְּאֹהֶל בֵּיתִי אִם־אֶעֱלֶה עַל־עֶרֶשׂ יְצוּעָי׃

4I will not give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids

דאִם־אֶתֵּן שְׁנַת לְעֵינָי לְעַפְעַפַּי תְּנוּמָה׃

5until I find a place for Hashem, an abode for the Mighty One of Yaakov.”

העַד־אֶמְצָא מָקוֹם לַיהֹוָה מִשְׁכָּנוֹת לַאֲבִיר יַעֲקֹב׃

6We heard it was in Efrat; we came upon it in the region of Jaar.

hi-nay sh'-ma-a-NU-ha v'-ef-RA-tah m'-tza-NU-ha bis-day YA-ar

והִנֵּה־שְׁמַעֲנוּהָ בְאֶפְרָתָה מְצָאנוּהָ בִּשְׂדֵי־יָעַר׃

 132:6   We heard it was in Efrat

This is the longest of the 15 chapters of Tehillim known as the “Songs of Ascent”. It is dedicated to King David and his desire for a resting place for Hashem’s presence. David’s vow to bring the Aron of God to Yerushalayim was heard in Efrat, David’s birthplace, and its inhabitants helped him bring the holy ark to Yerushalayim . Also called Beit Lechem, the city of Efrat is mentioned in the Bible as the birthplace of Binyamin and the burial place of Rachel (Genesis 35:19). In 1983, the Israeli religious Zionist settlement of Efrat was established by Moshe Moskowitz and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, its chief rabbi, near modern day Bethlehem. Today, with close to ten thousand residents, thirty synagogues and many educational and religious institutions, Efrat is a thriving community built on the principles of Torah and dedication to the Nation of Israel.

7Let us enter His abode, bow at His footstool.

זנָבוֹאָה לְמִשְׁכְּנוֹתָיו נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לַהֲדֹם רַגְלָיו׃

8Advance, Hashem, to Your resting-place, You and Your mighty Aron!

חקוּמָה יְהֹוָה לִמְנוּחָתֶךָ אַתָּה וַאֲרוֹן עֻזֶּךָ׃

9Your Kohanim are clothed in triumph; Your loyal ones sing for joy.

טכֹּהֲנֶיךָ יִלְבְּשׁוּ־צֶדֶק וַחֲסִידֶיךָ יְרַנֵּנוּ׃

10For the sake of Your servant David do not reject Your anointed one.

יבַּעֲבוּר דָּוִד עַבְדֶּךָ אַל־תָּשֵׁב פְּנֵי מְשִׁיחֶךָ׃

11Hashem swore to David a firm oath that He will not renounce, “One of your own issue I will set upon your throne.

יאנִשְׁבַּע־יְהֹוָה לְדָוִד אֱמֶת לֹא־יָשׁוּב מִמֶּנָּה מִפְּרִי בִטְנְךָ אָשִׁית לְכִסֵּא־לָךְ׃

12If your sons keep My covenant and My decrees that I teach them, then their sons also, to the end of time, shall sit upon your throne.”

יבאִם־יִשְׁמְרוּ בָנֶיךָ בְּרִיתִי וְעֵדֹתִי זוֹ אֲלַמְּדֵם גַּם־בְּנֵיהֶם עֲדֵי־עַד יֵשְׁבוּ לְכִסֵּא־לָךְ׃

13For Hashem has chosen Tzion; He has desired it for His seat.

יגכִּי־בָחַר יְהֹוָה בְּצִיּוֹן אִוָּהּ לְמוֹשָׁב לוֹ׃

14“This is my resting-place for all time; here I will dwell, for I desire it.

ידזֹאת־מְנוּחָתִי עֲדֵי־עַד פֹּה־אֵשֵׁב כִּי אִוִּתִיהָ׃

15I will amply bless its store of food, give its needy their fill of bread.

טוצֵידָהּ בָּרֵךְ אֲבָרֵךְ אֶבְיוֹנֶיהָ אַשְׂבִּיעַ לָחֶם׃

16I will clothe its Kohanim in victory, its loyal ones shall sing for joy.

טזוְכֹהֲנֶיהָ אַלְבִּישׁ יֶשַׁע וַחֲסִידֶיהָ רַנֵּן יְרַנֵּנוּ׃

17There I will make a horn sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one.

יזשָׁם אַצְמִיחַ קֶרֶן לְדָוִד עָרַכְתִּי נֵר לִמְשִׁיחִי׃

18I will clothe his enemies in disgrace, while on him his crown shall sparkle.”

יחאוֹיְבָיו אַלְבִּישׁ בֹּשֶׁת וְעָלָיו יָצִיץ נִזְרוֹ׃