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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 133

Translation and Transliteration of 

1A song of ascents. Of David. How good and how pleasant it is that brothers dwell together.

SHIR ha-ma-a-LOT l'-DA-vid, hi-NEH mah TOV u-mah NA-im, she-VET a-KHEEM gam YA-khad

אשִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת לְדָ֫וִ֥ד הִנֵּ֣ה מַה־טּ֭וֹב וּמַה־נָּעִ֑ים שֶׁ֖בֶת אַחִ֣ים גַּם־יָֽחַד׃

2It is like fine oil on the head running down onto the beard, the beard of Aharon, that comes down over the collar of his robe;

ka-SHE-men ha-TOV al-ha-ROSH yo-RED al-ha-ZA-kan ze-KAN-a-ha-ROn she-yo-RED al-PI mi-do-TAV

בכַּשֶּׁ֤מֶן הַטּ֨וֹב ׀ עַל־הָרֹ֗אשׁ יֹרֵ֗ד עַֽל־הַזָּקָ֥ן זְקַֽן־אַהֲרֹ֑ן שֶׁ֝יֹּרֵ֗ד עַל־פִּ֥י מִדּוֹתָֽיו׃

3like the dew of Chermon that falls upon the mountains of Tzion. There Hashe ordained blessing, everlasting life.

k'-tal kher-MON she-yo-RAYD al ha-r'-RAY tzi-YON KEE SHAM tzi-VAH a-do-NAI et ha-b'-ra-KHAH kha-YEEM ad ha-o-LAM

גכְּטַל־חֶרְמ֗וֹן שֶׁיֹּרֵד֮ עַל־הַרְרֵ֢י צִ֫יּ֥וֹן כִּ֤י שָׁ֨ם ׀ צִוָּ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה אֶת־הַבְּרָכָ֑ה חַ֝יִּ֗ים עַד־הָעוֹלָֽם׃

 133:3   Like the dew of Chermon

Morning dew on an almond blossom. By Yehoshua Halevi.

Tal (טל), ‘dew,’ is a common biblical symbol of Hashem’s bountiful blessings. Rain is another sign of God’s love for mankind. What is the difference between rain and dew? According to Jewish mysticism, rain is a sign of God showering his abundant blessings freely from above. Dew, which forms below from condensation of atmospheric water vapor, is related to the divine blessings which are a result of man’s own efforts and achievements. This psalm teaches that Hashem’s blessing from above allows for the flowering of man’s work below.