לִבְנֵי קֹרַח מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר יְסוּדָתוֹ בְּהַרְרֵי קֹדֶשׁ

A song, a psalm by the sons of Korah; its foundation is in the holy mountains. The main subject of this song is the mountains upon which Jerusalem rests, and specifically the Temple Mount.

אֹהֵב ה' שַׁעֲרֵי צִיּוֹן מִכֹּל מִשְׁכְּנוֹת יַעֲקֹב

The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob, because that is the city that He chose for Himself.

נִכְבָּדוֹת מְדֻבָּר בָּךְ עִיר הָאֱלֹהִים סֶלָה

Glorious things are spoken of you, city of God, Selah.

אַזְכִּיר רַהַב וּבָבֶל לְיֹדְעָי הִנֵּה פְלֶשֶׁת וְצֹר עִם כּוּשׁ זֶה יֻלַּד שָׁם

Jerusalem, the city of God, is praiseworthy in comparison not only with other “dwelling places of Jacob” (verse 2) but also with all other places in the world. The psalmist offers a number of examples: To those of my acquaintance, I mention Rahav, literally “arrogance,” another name for Egypt, and Babylon. Egypt and Babylon were the two great empires of the time. Behold Philistia and Tyre, on the Mediterranean coast, and Kush, far to the south. In all these places there may occasionally be found a native who brings pride to his country, and of whom it might be said: This one was born there.

ולְצִיּוֹן יֵאָמַר אִישׁ וְאִישׁ יֻלַּד בָּהּ וְהוּא יְכוֹנְנֶהָ עֶלְיוֹן

But of Zion it is said: This man and that man were born there. May the Most High establish it firmly. Ish, translated as “man,” often refers specifically to a person of prominence. It is not necessary to search in Zion for an occasional exceptional person; many great people are found there.

ה' יִסְפֹּר בִּכְתוֹב עַמִּים זֶה יֻלַּד שָׁם סֶלָה

When the Lord makes an account of the peoples, there will still be one unique city, Jerusalem, concerning which it will be said of many prominent individuals: This one was born there, Selah.

וְשָׁרִים כְּחֹלְלִים כָּל מַעְיָנַי בָּךְ

And singers and dancers alike exclaim in honor of Jerusalem: All my deepest desires are in you, Jerusalem.