Rak ak atsmi lesaper yadati,
Tsar olami ke'olam nemalah,
Gam masa'i amasti kamocha -
Rav vechaved miktefi hadalah.

Gam et darki - kedarka el tsameret,
Derech mach'ov vederech amal,
Yad anakim zdona oovotachat,
Yad mitbadachat, sama le'al.

Kol archoti hiliz vehid'mia,
Pachad tamir miyad anakim.

Lama kratem li, chofei hapeleh?
Lama kzavtem, orot rechokim?

Only of myself I know how to tell,
my world is as narrow as an ant's.
like an ant too my burden I carry,
too great and heavy for my frail shoulder.

My way too - like the ant's to the treetop -
is a way of pain and toil;
a gigantic hand, assured and malicious,
a mocking hand lies over all.

All my paths are made bleak and tearful
by the constant dread of this giant hand.

Why do you call to me, wondrous shores?
Why do you like to me, distant lights?