Lekha Dodi

Lekhah Dodi

לכה דודי

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Hebrew

לֹא תֵבֹשִׁי וְלֹא תִכָּלְמִי
מַה תִּשְׁתּוֹחֲחִי וּמַה תֶּהֱמִי
בָּךְ יֶחֱסוּ עֲנִיֵּי עַמִּי
וְנִבְנְתָה עִיר עַל תִּלָּהּ.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.

Sephardi

Lo tevoshi velo tikkalemi
Mah tishtochachi umah tehemi
Bach yechesu aniyei ami
Venivnetah ir al tillah.
Lekhah dodi likrat kalah, penei Shabbat nekabelah.

English

Do not be ashamed, do not be confounded. Why be downcast? Why do you mourn? In you the needy of My people find shelter, and the city shall be rebuilt on its hill. Come, my Beloved, to greet the bride; let us welcome the Sabbath.

Hebrew

וְהָיוּ לִמְשִׁסָּה שֹׁאסָיִךְ
וְרָחֲקוּ כָּל מְבַלְּעָיִךְ
יָשִׂישׂ עָלַיִךְ אֱלֹהָיִךְ
כִּמְשׂוֹשׂ חָתָן עַל כַּלָּה.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.

Sephardi

Vehayu limshisah sho'asayich
Verachaku kol meval'ayich
Yasis alayich Elohayich
Kimsos chatan al kallah.
Lekhah dodi likrat kalah, penei Shabbat nekabelah.

English

Those who despoiled you shall be despoiled, and all who devoured you shall be far away. Your God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. Come, my Beloved, to greet the bride; let us welcome the Sabbath.

Hebrew

יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל תִּפְרֹצִי
וְאֶת יְהֹוָה תַּעֲרִיצִי
עַל יַד אִישׁ בֶּן פַּרְצִי
וְנִשְׂמְחָה וְנָגִילָה.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.

Sephardi

Yamin usmol tifrotzi
Ve'et Adonai ta'aritzi
Al yad ish ben Partzi
Venismechah venagilah.
Lekhah dodi likrat kalah, penei Shabbat nekabelah.

English

Right and left you shall spread out, and God you will revere. Through the descendant of Peretz, we shall rejoice and we shall be glad. Come, my Beloved, to greet the bride; let us welcome the Sabbath.

Stand and turn to face the door or the rear (usually western side) of the synagogue, as if to greet the incoming bride, bowing at the words "Enter, O bride!," then turn back.

Hebrew

בּוֹאִי בְשָׁלוֹם עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ
גַּם בְּרִנָּה / ביום טוב: בְּשִׂמְחָה / וּבְצָהֳלָה
תּוֹךְ אֱמוּנֵי עַם סְגֻלָּה
בּוֹאִי כַלָּה, בּוֹאִי כַלָּה
בּוֹאִי כַלָּה, שַׁבָּת מַלְכְּתָא.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.

Sephardi

Boi beshalom ateret ba'lah
Gam berinah (beyom tov: besimcha) uvetzahola
Toch emunei am segulah
Boi kallah, boi kalah
Boi kallah, Shabbat malketa.
Lekhah dodi likrat kalah, penei Shabbat nekabelah.

English

Come in peace, O crown of her husband; come with joyful song / On Yom Tov: with joy/ and jubilation, among the faithful of the treasured people. Enter, O bride! Enter, O bride! Enter, O bride, Shabbat the queen! Come, my Beloved, to greet the bride; let us welcome the Sabbath.

Mourners during the week of Shiva return to the synagogue at this point. They are greeted with the following words of consolation:

Hebrew

הַמָּקוֹם יְנַחֵם אֶתְכֶם בְּתוֹךְ שְׁאָר אֲבֵלֵי צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלָיִם.

Sephardi

Hamakom yenachem etchem betoch she'ar aveliei Tziyon viYerushalayim.

English

May the Almighty comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.