The Talmud tells us that when we return home from synagogue on Shabbat, two ministering angels accompany us and observe how our table is set for the Shabbat meal. The four-stanza song, which begins with Shalom Aleichem, is traditionally sung to welcome them, request their blessing, and then bid them farewell.
(The following his is said quietly when Shabbat coincides with a festival or Chol Hamoed:)
Say three times:
Peace unto you, ministering angels, messengers of the Most High, of the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed he He.
שָלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָרֵת מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִים הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Say three times:
May your coming be in peace angels of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the supreme King of kings, the Holy one, blessed be He.
בּוֹאֲכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִים הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Say three times:
Bless me with peace, angels of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the supreme King of kings, the Holy one, blessed he He.
בָּרְכוּנִי לְשָלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִים הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Say three times:
May your departure be in peace, angels of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the supreme King of kings, the Holy one, blessed he He.
צֵאתְכֶם לְשָלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְלָכִים הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Say once
For He will instruct His angels in your behalf, to guard you in all your ways. The Lord will guard your going and your coming from now and for all time.
כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָּךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ. יְהוָה יִשְׁמָר צֵאתְךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם
Transliteration
Repeat three times:
Sha-lohm ah-lay-khehm,
mah-lah-khay hah-sha-rayt,
mah-lah-khay ehl-yohn,
mee-meh-lekh mahl-khay hahm-lah-kheem,
hah-kah-dohsh bah-rookh hoo.
Repeat three times:
Boh-ah-khehm li-sha-lohm,
mah-lah-khay hah-sha-lohm,
mah-lah-khay ehl-yohn,
mee-meh-lekh mahl-khay hahm-lah-kheem,
hah-kah-dohsh bah-rookh hoo.
Repeat three times:
Bahr-khoo-nee li-sha-lohm,
mah-lah-khay hah-sha-lohm,
mah-lah-khay ehl-yohn,
mee-meh-lekh mahl-khay hahm-lah-kheem,
hah-kah-dohsh bah-rookh hoo.
Repeat three times
Repeat three times:
Tzayt-khehm li-sha-lohm,
mah-lah-khay hah-sha-lohm,
mah-lah-khay ehl-yohn,
mee-meh-lekh mahl-khay hahm-lah-kheem,
hah-kah-dohsh bah-rookh hoo.
Say once:
Kee mah-lah-khahv yi-tzah-veh lakh, lee-shomahr-khah bi-khohl di-rah-kheh-khah. Ah-doh-noi yee-shomahr tzayt-khah, oo-voh-eh-khah, may-ah-tah vahd oh-lahm.
