Lecha
DodiJudaism's most popular Shabbat prayer-song,
composed
by Rabbi Shlomo Alkebetznew translation by Rabbi Moshe Miller
First Stanza / Refrain: "Come out my Beloved, the
Bride to meet;
The inner light of Shabbat, let us greet."[Refrain]
Second Stanza:"Observe"
and "Remember" in a single word,
He caused us to hear, the One and
Only Lord.
G-d is One and His Name is One,
For renown, for glory and in
song.[Refrain]
Third Stanza:To
welcome the Shabbat, let us progress,
For that is the source, from which to
bless.
From the beginning, chosen before time,
Last in deed, but in thought
- prime.
[Refrain]
Fourth Stanza:Sanctuary
of the King, city royal,
Arise, go out from amidst the turmoil.
In the
vale of tears too long you have dwelt,
He will show you [the] compassion [He
always felt]. [Refrain]
Fifth Stanza:Arise,
now, shake off the dust,
Don your robes of glory - my people - you must.
Through
the son of Yishai, the Bethelemite,
Draw near to my soul, set her free [from
her plight]. [Refrain]
Sixth Stanza:Wake
up, wake up,
Your light has come, rise and shine.
Awaken, awaken; sing
a melody,
The glory of G-d will be revealed upon thee. [Refrain]
Seventh Stanza:Be
not ashamed, nor confounded,
Why are you downcast, why astounded?
In you,
refuge for My poor people will be found,
The city will be rebuilt on its former
mound. [Refrain] Eighth
Stanza:May your plunderers be treated the same way,
And
all who would devour you be kept at bay.
Over you Your G-d will rejoice,
As
a groom exults in his bride [of choice]. [Refrain]
Ninth Stanza:To right
and left you'll spread abroad,
And the Eternal One you shall laud.
Through
the man from Peretz's family,
We shall rejoice and sing happily. [Refrain]
Tenth Stanza:
Come in peace, her Husband's crown of pride,
With song (on Festivals: rejoicing) and good cheer.
Among the faithful of the people so dear,
Enter O Bride, enter O Bride;
(in an undertone: O Bride, Shabbat Queen, now come here!)
[go to Prayer Menu for commentary
on each stanza separately]
Rabbi
Moshe-Leib Miller, a guest teacher at Ascent when he lived in Israel, was born
in South Africa and received his yeshiva education in Israel and America. He is
a prolific author and translator, with some twenty books to his name on a wide
variety of topics, including a new, authoritative, annotated translation of the
Zohar. He currently lives in Chicago. |
