David Melekh Yisrael

David is king of Israel,

David mèlèkh Yisra’él,

דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל,

Alive and enduring!*

Hay, ve-qayam!

חַי וְקַיָּם!

Jesse's son from Bethlehem

Bèn Yishay béyt ha-lahmi

בֶּן יִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי

Then a shepherd, redhead,

Ro’è ‘od tson ha-admoni

רוֹעֶה עוֹד צֹאן הָאַדְמוֹנִי

Beautiful eyes, good looking

Yefé ‘énayim. Tov ro’i

יְפֵה עֵינַיִם, טוֹב רֹאִי

Shepherd of ewe, lamb and kid.

Ro’è kivsa talè u-gedi.

רוֹעֶה כִּבְשָׂה טָלֶה וּגְדִי.

Toward Goliath in full armor

’Èl Golyat bi-levush barzèl

אֶל גָּלְיָת בִּלְבוּשׁ בַּרְזֶל

He threw a stone with his sling

’Èvèn kèla‘ hu shalah

אֶבֶן קֶלַע הוּא שָׁלַח

Joy for Israel:

Ha-simha le-Yisra’él

הַשִּׂמְחָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל

The Philistine tumbled and crumbled.

Ha-Pelishti kara‘, tsanah.

הַפְּלִשְׁתִּי כָּרַע, צָנַח.

* [Talmud Babli, Rosh-hashana 25a]