Lecha Dodi

shamor vezakhor bedibbur ekhad. hishmi'anu el hameyukhad. Adonai ekhad ushemo ekhad. leshem uletiferet velithillah:

This poem was written by Rabbi Solomon Halevy Alkabetz, whose name שְׁלֹמֹה הַלֵוִי is spelled out by the first letter of each stanza. In this poem, the bridegroom (Israel) calls to his Beloved Friend (God) asking that He join him in welcoming his bride (the Sabbath). The concept of welcoming the Sabbath goes back to Talmudic times. Rabbi Chanina robed himself and stood at sunset on the eve of the Sabbath and exclaimed, “Come! Let us go forth to welcome the Sabbath Queen.” Rabbi Yanai garbed himself in festive attire on Sabbath eve and exclaimed; “Come bride, Come bride” (Shabbos 119a).Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

liqrat shabbat lekhu venelekhah. ki hi meqor habberakhah. merosh miqqedem nesukhah. sof ma'aseh bemakhashavah tekhillah:

“Preserve” and “Remember” in a single utterance the One Almighty caused us to hear; Adonoy is One, and His Name is One; for fame, for glory, and for praise.

miqdash melekh ir melukhah. qumi tse'i mittokh hahafekhah. rav lakh shevet be'emeq habbakha. vehu yakhmol alayikh khemlah:

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

hitna'ari me'afar qumi. livshi bigde tifartekh ammi. al yad ben yishay bet hallakhmi. qarevah el nafshi ge'alah:

To greet the Sabbath, come let us go for it is the source of blessing; from the very beginning, of old, it was appointed; last in creation, first in [God's] thought.

hitoreri. hitoreri. ki va orekh qumi ori. uri uri shir dabberi. kevod Adonai alayikh niglah:

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

lo tevoshi velo tikkalemi. mah tishtokhakhi umah tehemi. bakh yekhesu aniyye ammi. venivnetah ir al tillah:

Sanctuary of the King, royal city, arise, come forth from the upheaval; too long have you dwelt in the valley of weeping; He will show you abundant pity.

vehayu limshissah shosayikh. verakhaqu kol mevalle'ayikh. yasis alayikh elohayikh. kimsos khatan al kallah:

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

yamin usemol tifrotsi. ve'et Adonai ta'aritsi. al yad ish ben partsi. venismekhah venagilah:

Shake the dust off yourself, arise, dress up in your garments of glory, my people; through the son of Yishai the Bethlehemite, draw near to my soul and redeem it.

bo'i veshalom ateret balah. gam besimkhah uvetsoholah. tokh emune am segullah. bo'i khallah bo'i khallah bo'i khallah shabbat malketa:

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.