The longest of the Friday night zemirot and usually the first one sung, before the food arrives. Eight stanzas, each rhyming on a single sound, and the opening letters run through the alphabet — this is an acrostic poem of the kind the psalms use, stretched over a table song. Its subject is not the Sabbath in the abstract but the people who keep it: almost every stanza names a class of person and says what they do.
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Key: Am · 3 chords used ·Am · Dm · E
100 BPM · 4/4 · Friday night, usually the first zemer of the meal · eight stanzas of four lines, each stanza on its own rhyme, and the acrostic runs through the alphabet · to reset the chord panel:
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Everyone who sanctifies the seventh day as befits it,
כָּל
kal
every
שׁוֹמֵר
sho-MER
one who keeps
שַׁבָּת
sha-BAT
Sabbath
כַּדָּת
ka-DAT
according to the law
מֵחַלְלוֹ
me-chal-LO
from profaning it
|Am|E|
everyone who guards the Sabbath properly from profaning it,
שְׂכָרוֹ
scha-RO
his reward
הַרְבֵּה
har-BE
is great
מְאֹד
me-OD
very
עַל
al
according to
פִּי
pi
the mouth of
פָעֳלוֹ
fa-o-LO
his deed
|Dm|Am|
his reward is very great, according to his deed:
אִישׁ
ish
a man
עַל
al
by
מַחֲנֵהוּ
ma-cha-ne-HU
his camp
וְאִישׁ
ve-ISH
and a man
עַל
al
by
דִגְלוֹ
dig-LO
his banner
|E|Am|
each man in his camp, and each man by his banner.
אִישׁ (ish) through דִגְלוֹ (dig-lo) is from Numbers, where the tribes camp each under its own standard. The poem borrows it to say that the reward is individual — everyone in their own place, not one reward for the crowd.
Lovers of the LORD, who wait for the building of the Temple,
בְּיוֹם
byom
on the day of
הַשַּׁבָּת
ha-sha-BAT
the Sabbath
שִׂישׂוּ
si-SU
be glad!
וְשִׂמְחוּ
ve-sim-CHU
and rejoice!
כִּמְקַבְּלֵי
kim-kab-LEI
like those receiving
מַתַּן
ma-TAN
a gift of
נַחֲלִיאֵל
na-cha-li-EL
God
|Am|E|
on the Sabbath day be glad and rejoice, like those receiving a gift from God;
גַּם
gam
also
שְׂאוּ
se-U
lift up!
יְדֵיכֶם
ye-DEI-chem
your hands
קֹדֶשׁ
KO-desh
in holiness
וְאִמְרוּ
ve-im-RU
and say!
לָאֵל
la-EL
to God
|Dm|Am|
lift up your hands in holiness too, and say to God:
בָּרוּךְ
ba-RUCH
blessed is
יְהֹוָה
a-do-NAY
the LORD
אֲשֶׁר
A-sher
who
נָתַן
na-TAN
gave
מְנוּחָה
me-nu-CHA
rest
לְעַמּוֹ
le-a-MO
to His people
יִשְׂרָאֵל
yis-ra-EL
Israel
|E|Am|
blessed is the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel.
בָּרוּךְ (ba-ruch) through יִשְׂרָאֵל (yis-ra-el) is Solomon's blessing at the dedication of the Temple, in Kings. The stanza opens on people waiting for that building and closes on the words spoken when it stood.
Those who seek the LORD, the seed of Abraham who loved Him,
הַמְאַחֲרִים
ham-a-cha-RIM
those who delay
לָצֵאת
la-TZET
to go out
מִן
min
from
הַשַּׁבָּת
ha-sha-BAT
the Sabbath
וּמְמַהֲרִים
um-ma-ha-RIM
and hurry
לָבֹא
la-VO
to come in
|Am|E|
who delay in leaving the Sabbath and hurry to enter it,
וּשְׂמֵחִים
us-me-CHIM
and are glad
לְשָׁמְרוֹ
le-sham-RO
to keep it
וּלְעָרֵב
ul-a-REV
and to prepare
עֵרוּבוֹ
e-ru-VO
its eruv
|Dm|Am|
and are glad to keep it and to prepare its eruv:
זֶה
ze
this
הַיּוֹם
ha-YOM
is the day
עָשָׂה
a-SA
made
יְהֹוָה
a-do-NAY
the LORD
נָגִילָה
na-gi-LA
let us rejoice
וְנִשְׂמְחָה
ve-nis-me-CHA
and be glad
בוֹ
vo
in it
|E|Am|
this is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
הַמְאַחֲרִים (ham-a-cha-rim) and וּמְמַהֲרִים (um-ma-ha-rim) are opposites in one line — those who are slow to let the day end and quick to let it begin. That pair is the whole attitude the poem is recommending, in two words.
Remember the Torah of Moses in the commandment of the Sabbath, well studied,
חֲרוּתָה
cha-ru-TA
engraved
לַיּוֹם
la-YOM
for the day
הַשְּׁבִיעִי
hash-vi-I
the seventh
כְּכַלָּה
ke-cha-LA
like a bride
בֵּין
bein
among
רֵעוֹתֶיהָ
re-o-tei-A
her companions
מְשֻׁבָּצָה
me-shu-ba-TZA
adorned
|Am|E|
engraved for the seventh day, like a bride adorned among her companions;
טְהוֹרִים
te-ho-RIM
pure ones
יִירָשׁוּהָ
yi-ra-shu-A
inherit it
וִיקַדְּשׁוּהָ
vi-kad-shu-A
and sanctify it
בְּמַאֲמַר
be-ma-a-MAR
by the word of
כָּל
kal
all
אֲשֶׁר
A-sher
that
עָשָׂה
a-SA
He made
|Dm|Am|
the pure inherit it and make it holy, by the word of Him who made everything,
וַיְכַל
vai-CHAL
and He finished
אֱלֹהִים
e-lo-HIM
God
בַּיּוֹם
ba-YOM
on the day
הַשְּׁבִיעִי
hash-vi-I
the seventh
מְלַאכְתּוֹ
mlach-TO
His work
אֲשֶׁר
A-sher
that
עָשָׂה
a-SA
He made
|E|Am|
and God finished on the seventh day the work that He had done.
כְּכַלָּה (ke-cha-la) — like a bride — is the image Lecha Dodi builds a whole poem on, and here it is one word in passing. וַיְכַל (vai-chal) through עָשָׂה (a-sa) is Genesis 2:2 verbatim, the verse recited over the Friday night cup.
It is a holy day, from its coming in to its going out;
כָּל
kal
all
זֶרַע
ZE-ra
the seed of
יַעֲקֹב
ya-a-KOV
Jacob
יְכַבְּדוּהוּ
ye-chab-du-HU
will honour it
כִּדְבַר
kid-VAR
as the word of
הַמֶּלֶךְ
ha-me-LECH
the king
וְדָתוֹ
ve-da-TO
and his decree
|Am|E|
all the seed of Jacob will honour it, as the king said and decreed;
לָנוּחַ
la-NU-ach
to rest
בּוֹ
bo
on it
וְלִשְׂמֹחַ
ve-lis-MO-ach
and to rejoice
בְּתַעֲנוּג
be-ta-a-NUG
in the pleasure of
אָכוֹל
a-CHOL
eating
וְשָׁתוֹ
ve-sha-TO
and drinking
|Dm|Am|
to rest on it and to be glad in the pleasure of eating and drinking:
כָּל
kal
all
עֲדַת
a-DAT
the congregation of
יִשְׂרָאֵל
yis-ra-EL
Israel
יַעֲשׂוּ
ya-a-SU
will do
אוֹתוֹ
o-TO
it
|E|Am|
the whole congregation of Israel will do it.
מִבֹּאוֹ (mi-bo-o) and צֵאתוֹ (tze-to) mark the day by its edges — its coming in and its going out — the same phrase Menucha VeSimcha uses, and still the ordinary Hebrew for when Shabbat starts and ends.
Draw out Your kindness to those who know You, jealous and avenging God;
נוֹטְרֵי
not-REI
those who keep
יוֹם
yom
day
הַשְּׁבִיעִי
hash-vi-I
the seventh
זָכוֹר
za-CHOR
remember
וְשָׁמוֹר
ve-sha-MOR
and keep
לְהָקֵם
le-ha-KEM
to establish
|Am|E|
to those who keep the seventh day, remembering and guarding, to establish it;
שַׂמְּחֵם
sam-CHEM
gladden them!
בְּבִנְיַן
be-vin-YAN
with a building
שָׁלֵם
sha-LEM
whole
בְּאוֹר
be-OR
with the light of
פָּנֶיךָ
pa-nei-CHA
Your face
תַּבְהִיקֵם
tav-hi-KEM
may it make them shine
|Dm|Am|
gladden them with a whole building; may the light of Your face make them shine;
יִרְוְיֻן
yir-ve-YUN
they will be sated
מִדֶּשֶׁן
mi-DE-shen
from the richness of
בֵּיתֶךָ
bei-te-CHA
Your house
וְנַחַל
ve-na-CHAL
and the stream of
עֲדָנֶיךָ
a-da-nei-CHA
Your delights
תַשְׁקֵם
tash-KEM
You will give them to drink
|E|Am|
they will be filled from the richness of Your house, and You will give them Your stream of delights to drink.
יִרְוְיֻן (yir-ve-yun) through תַשְׁקֵם (tash-kem) is Psalm 36, two verses run together. זָכוֹר (za-chor) and וְשָׁמוֹר (ve-sha-mor) are the two verbs of the fourth commandment again, remember and keep, which turn up in almost every zemer on this site.
Help those who rest on the seventh day, in ploughing and in harvest, for ever;
פּוֹסְעִים
pos-IM
stepping
בּוֹ
bo
on it
פְּסִיעָה
psi-A
a step
קְטַנָּה
kta-NA
small
סוֹעֲדִים
so-a-DIM
dining
בּוֹ
bo
on it
לְבָרֵךְ
le-va-RECH
to bless
שָׁלשׁ
sha-LOSH
three
פְּעָמִים
pe-a-MIM
times
|Am|E|
who take small steps on it, who dine on it, blessing three times;
צִדְקָתָם
tzid-ka-TAM
their righteousness
תַּצְהִיר
tatz-HIR
will shine
כְּאוֹר
ke-OR
like the light of
שִׁבְעַת
shiv-AT
the seven of
הַיָּמִים
ha-ya-MIM
the days
|Dm|Am|
may their righteousness shine like the light of the seven days.
יְהֹוָה
a-do-NAY
the LORD
אֱלֹהֵי
e-lo-HEI
God of
יִשְׂרָאֵל
yis-ra-EL
Israel
הָבָה
ha-VA
give
תָמִים
ta-MIM
wholeness
|E|Am|
LORD, God of Israel, give wholeness;
פְּסִיעָה (psi-a) and קְטַנָּה (kta-na) — a small step — is a detail from the Talmud about how one walks on Shabbat, and שָׁלשׁ (sha-losh) names the three meals. The stanza is the most practical in the poem, and it is also the one with a line about ploughing and harvest, which is where the sabbatical year is hiding.
sanctify them by Your commandments and purify them, like the very substance of the heavens for purity;
רוּחֲךָ
ru-cha-CHA
Your spirit
תְּנִיחֶנּוּ
te-ni-che-NU
will give them rest
כַּבְּהֵמָה
kab-he-MA
like cattle
בַּבִּקְעָה
ba-bik-A
in the valley
תֵרֵד
te-RED
goes down
מִן
min
from
הָהָר
ha-HAR
the mountain
|Dm|Am|
may Your spirit give them rest, as cattle in the valley go down from the mountain;
שִׁבְטֵיהֶם
shiv-TEI-hem
their tribes
תְּשַׁכְנֵם
tshach-NEM
settle them!
בְּנַחֲלַת
bna-cha-LAT
in the inheritance of
הַסַּהַר
ha-sa-HAR
the moon
|E|Am|
settle their tribes in the inheritance of the moon,
כִּנְחָלִים
kin-cha-LIM
like streams
נִטָּיוּ
ni-tai-U
they were planted
כְּגַנֹּת
ke-ga-NOT
like gardens
עֲלֵי
a-LEI
beside
נָהָר
na-HAR
a river
|AmE|Am|
planted like streams, like gardens beside a river.
כַּבְּהֵמָה (kab-he-ma) through הָהָר (ha-har) is Isaiah 63 and כִּנְחָלִים (kin-cha-lim) through נָהָר (na-har) is Balaam's blessing in Numbers 24, so the poem ends on two of the most visual passages in the Tanakh. Five lines rather than four: the last stanza runs long, which is normal for an acrostic that has to reach the end of the alphabet.
♫ Singing notes
Long. Eight stanzas is more than most tables sing, and stopping after three or four is completely normal.
Each stanza has its own rhyme, and the rhyme changes when the stanza does. That is your signal that a new one has started.
Around 100 BPM, and it is usually the first zemer of the evening, sung before the food comes out while everyone still has breath.
Unlike Tzur Mishelo there is no refrain, so a guest cannot join halfway. Listen through one stanza before trying.
♦ About this song
An alphabetical acrostic
The opening letters run through the alphabet, which is the form of several psalms and of Eshet Chayil. Over eight stanzas it acts as a memory aid for the singer and as a formal constraint on the poet, who has to find a word for each letter that also fits the stanza's rhyme.
About people, not about the day
Almost every stanza opens by naming a class of person — whoever sanctifies, lovers of the LORD, those who seek, the pure, those who rest. The poem is a description of a community rather than of a calendar, which is unusual among the zemirot.
Quotation everywhere
Numbers, Kings, Genesis 2, Psalm 36, Psalm 118, Isaiah 63, Balaam's blessing. None marked. Reading the page slowly, a learner will meet half a dozen verses they already know embedded in lines that are not otherwise familiar.
Hebrew: Siddur Ashkenaz, Shabbat, Shabbat Evening, Zemirot for Shabbat Evening, Kol Mekadesh · The Metsudah siddur, 1981 · CC-BY, via Sefaria, pinned in this repo at content/songs/source/008.json.
English gloss lines authored for this site; the source translation is used as raw material only. Transliteration generated by this site's own engine (assets/translit.js).