HATZRIF HAKATAN

Hated'u et hatzrif hara'u'ah
Hanitzav al hachof ko boded?
Hated'u, chevraya, l'saper, biglal mah?
Ko azuv v'atzuv hu omed?

Zeh shanim lo darkah bo kaf regel,
Rak sh'chafim mitkansim bis'arah;
Ach omrim ki mizman, batzrifon hakatan
Gar malach v'ito na'arah.

Heim chayu b'simcha u'v'osher,
Hayarei'ach hei'ir et leilam,
V'hashemesh zarach al yaldah u'malach -
Ad asher shuv karah lo hayam.
Hu amar: Ha'ali ner kol erev
V'hatzivi oto bachalon,
V'haya ki echzor v'er'eh et ha'or
V'edah: At batzrif hakatan!

Hu hiflig basfinah el ha'ofek
M'chakah na'arah ad ein ketz;
Uvatzrif haboded,
et ha'erev yored,
Ner katan bachalon menatz'netz.
Kach avru hashanim b'tochelet,
Ad b'lailah gashum veso'er
Nird'mah hayaldah, v'haner l'yadah -
V'haru'ach kibah et haner!

Bo balailah sfinah mitkarevet
V'aleha nitzav hamalach:
Ach lashav hu mashkif,
Ki ein or sham batzrif'
Hu chazar el hayam v'halach.
Yeish omrim, hu matzah lo acheret,
Yeish omrim, bam'tzulot hu tavah;
Hayaldah al hachof od chiktah ulvasof
Da'achah kmo haner shekava.

Ume'az reik hatzrif hara'u'ah,
Rak sh'chafim bo tzorchim b'yagon;
Ach b'leil s'arah, et haru'ach karah,
Or shel ner m'havhev bachalon...