Yerushalayim Shel Zahav

Ofra Hazra one of the first Israeli Pop Singers sings "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav" one of my favorite songs. Many will say this is a secular poetry but I find it really hard to separate among the good things God has given to us and term it something as secular.Ofra died at the young age of 42, among various speculations from murder to health reasons, she was one of the jewels in singing voices from Israel.

Hearing this song is an emotional experience for not only the Jewish people but all in the Judeo-Christian faith who understand Jerusalem is the sacred city of the King. It holds a special place in the heart of the believer. Now I know why the ancient singers and poets by the rivers of Babylon couldn't bring their harps and lyre's to sing as they were not in Jerusalem, the city of God. In the final scenes of the movie "Kingdom of Heaven" - Bailion the defender of Jerusalem is asking Saladin the Syrian King..."What is Jerusalem worth to you?"; At first he tells him "nothing" and walks away and then he suddenly turns and says "Everything"!.

Here is Ofra singing "Yerushalayim Shel Zahav". I have provided the translation from Hebrewsongs.com ...Enjoy!

YERUSHALAYIM SHEL ZAHAV Avir harim tzalul kayayin Vereiach oranim, Nisa beru'ach ha'arbayim Im kol pa'amonim. Uvetardemat ilan va'even Shvuyah bachalomah, Ha'ir asher badad yoshevet /nitzevet Uvelibah chomah. Chorus: Yerushalayim shel zahav Veshel nechoshet veshel or Halo lechol shirayich ani kinor. x2 Eicha yavshu borot hamayim Kikar hashuk reikah, Ve'ein poked et har habayit Ba'ir ha'atikah. Uvame'arot asher basela Meyalelot ruchot, Ve'ein yored el yam hamelach Bederech Yericho. Chorus... Ach bevo'i hayom lashir lach Velach lik'shor k'tarim, Katonti mitze'ir bana'ich Ume'acharon ham'shorerim. Ki shmech tzorev et hasfatayim Keneshikat saraf , Im eshkachech Yerushalayim Asher kulah zahav... Chorus... Chazarnu el borot hamayim Lashuk velakikar, Shofar kore behar habayit ba'ir ha'atikah. Uvame'arot asher baselah Alfei shmashot zorchot, Nashuv nered el yam hamelach Bederech Yericho! Chorus...

JERUSALEM OF GOLD The mountain air is clear as wine And the scent of pines Is carried on the breeze of twilight With the sound of bells. And in the slumber of tree and stone Captured in her dream The city that sits solitary And in its midst is a wall. Chorus: Jerusalem of gold And of bronze, and of light Behold I am a harp for all your songs. x2 How the cisterns have dried The market-place is empty And no one frequents the Temple Mount In the Old City. And in the caves in the mountain Winds are howling And no one descends to the Dead Sea By way of Jericho. Chorus... But as I come to sing to you today, And to adorn crowns to you (i.e. to tell your praise) I am the smallest of the youngest of your children (i.e. the least worthy of doing so) And of the last poet (i.e. of all the poets born). For your name scorches the lips Like the kiss of a seraph If I forget thee, Jerusalem, Which is all gold... Chorus... We have returned to the cisterns To the market and to the market-place A ram's horn calls out on the Temple Mount In the Old City. And in the caves in the mountain Thousands of suns shine - We will once again descend to the Dead Sea By way of Jericho! Chorus...