Lekha Dodi
Lekha Dodi is a 16th-century poem sung as the spiritual centerpiece of Kabbalat Shabbat to welcome Shabbat as a beloved bride and queen, inviting the community to turn toward renewal, rest, and sacred time.
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Transliteration / Hebrew
Lekha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
Shamor v’zakhor b’dibur ehad, hishmi-anu El ha-m’yuhad.
Adonai ehad u-shmo ehad, I’shem u-l’tiferet v’lit-hilah.
L’kha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
Likrat shabbat I’khu v’neil’khah, ki hi m’kor ha-b’rakhah.
Meirosh mi-kedem n’sukhah, Sof ma aseh b’mahashavah t’hilah.
L’kha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
Mikdash melekh ir m’lukhah, kumi tze’i mitokh ha-hafeikhah.
Rav lakh shevet b’emek ha-bakha, v’hu yahamol alayikh hemlah.
L’kha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
Hitna-ari, mei-afar kumi, livshi bigdei tifartekh ami.
Al yad ben yishai beit ha-lahmi, korvah el nafshi ge’alah.
L’kha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
Hitor’ri hitor’ri,
ki va orekh kumi ori.
Uri uri shir dabeiri, k’vod Adonai alayikh niglah.
L’kha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
Lo teivoshi v’lo tikalmi, mah tishtohahi u-mah tehemi.
Bakh yehesu aniyei ami,
v’nivn’tah ir al tilah.
L’kha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
V’hayu lim-shisah shosayikh,
v’rahaku kol m’valayikh.
Yasis alayikh elohayikh,
kimsos hatan al kalah.
L’kha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
Yamin usmol tifrotzi,
v’et Adonai ta-aritzi.
Al yad ish ben partzi, v’nism’hah v’nagilah.
L’kha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
Bo-i v’shalom ateret balah, gam b’simhah u-v’tzoholah,
tokh emunei am s’gulah, bo-i khalah, bo-i khalah.
L’kha dodi likrat kalah, p’nei shabbat n’kab’lah.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה:
שָׁמוֹר וְזָכוֹר בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד, הִשְמִיעָֽנוּ אֵל הַמְּיֻחָד.
ה’ אֶחָד וּשְמוֹ אֶחָד. לְשֵׁם וּלְתִפְאֶֽרֶת וְלִתְהִלָּה:
לִקְרַאת שַׁבָּת לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה. כִּי הִיא מְקוֹר הַבְּרָכָה.
מֵרֹאשׁ מִקֶּֽדֶם נְסוּכָה. סוֹף מַעֲשֶׂה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה:
מִקְדַּשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ עִיר מְלוּכָה. קֽוּמִי צְאִי מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה.
רַב לָךְ שֶֽׁבֶת בְּעֵֽמֶק הַבָּכָא. וְהוּא יַחֲמוֹל עָלַֽיִךְ חֶמְלָה:
הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר קוּמִי. לִבְשִׁי בִּגְדֵי תִפְאַרְתֵּךְ עַמִּי:
עַל יַד בֶּן יִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי. קָרְבָה אֶל נַפְשִׁי גְאָלָהּ:
הִתְעוֹרְרִי הִתְעוֹרְרִי. כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ
קֽֽוּמִי אֽוֹרִי.
עֽוּרִי עֽוּרִי שִׁיר דַבֵּֽרִי. כְּבוֹד ה’ עָלַֽיִךְ נִגְלָה.
לא תֵבושי וְלא תִכָּלְמִי. מַה תִּשתּוחֲחִי וּמַה תֶּהֱמִי.
בָּךְ יֶחֱסוּ עֲנִיֵּי עַמִּי. וְנִבְנְתָה עִיר עַל תִּלָּהּ.
וְהָיוּ לִמְשסָּה שאסָיִךְ. וְרָחֲקוּ כָּל מְבַלְּעָיִךְ.
יָשיש עָלַיִךְ אֱלהָיִךְ. כִּמְשוש חָתָן עַל כַּלָּה.
יָמִין וּשמאל תִּפְרוצִי. וְאֶת ה’ תַּעֲרִיצִי.
עַל יַד אִיש בֶּן פַּרְצִי. וְנִשמְחָה וְנָגִילָה.
בּֽוֹאִי בְשָׁלוֹם עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ. גַּם בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְצָהֳלָה.
תּוֹךְ אֱמוּנֵי עַם סְגֻּלָּה. בּֽוֹאִי כַלָּה, בּֽוֹאִי כַלָּה:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה:
Translation (Lev Shalem)
Lekha Dodi
Come, my beloved, to welcome the bride; let us greet Shabbat as she arrives.
“Observe” and “remember” were uttered as one, we heard it thus from the singular One.
God’s name is one and God is one,
renowned with honor and deserving of praise.
Come, my beloved…
Let us go out to greet Shabbat, sacred wellspring of blessing, conceived at the beginning of time, finally formed at the end of six days.
Come, my beloved…
Shrine of our sovereign, royal city, rise up from destruction and fear no more.
End your dwelling in the tear-filled valley, for with God’s compassion you will be upraised.
Come, my beloved…
Awake! Rise up from the dust!
Dress yourself in this people’s pride.
By the hand of Jesse’s son, of Bethlehem’s tribe bring my redemption without further delays.
Come, my beloved, to welcome the bride; let us greet Shabbat as she arrives.
Rouse yourself, rouse yourself,
for your lamp is lit; let the flame rise up and glow.
Awake awake, utter songs of praise, for God’s glory is revealed to your gaze.
Come, my beloved…
Do not be embarrassed, do not be ashamed.
Why are you downcast? Why do you moan?
The poorest of your people, trust in this: the city will be rebuilt as in ancient days.
Come, my beloved…
Your despoilers shall be despoiled, your tormentors removed far away.
God and you will celebrate together, a bride and groom in joyful embrace.
Come, my beloved, to welcome the bride; let us greet Shabbat as she arrives.
You will spread out to the left and the right, acclaiming ADONAI our God with delight.
Redeemed by the scion of Peretz’s line, we shall joyously chant songs of praise.
Come, my beloved…
We rise and turn toward the entrance.
Come in peace, crown of your spouse, surrounded by gladness and joyous shouts.
Come to the faithful, the people You treasure with pride, come, my bride; come, my bride…
Come, my beloved…
