Lecha Dodi (“Come My Beloved”) is a hymn sung during Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat services. It was composed by Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, who alluded to his name in the poem's acrostic. In some synagogues, it is chanted responsively, while many others sing it in unison.
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
"Observe" and "Remember," the one and only G‑d caused us to hear in a single utterance; the L-rd is One and His Name is One, for renown, for glory and for praise.
שָׁמוֹר וְזָכוֹר בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד, הִשְׁמִיעָנוּ אֵל הַמְיֻחָד, יְיָ אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד, לְשֵׁם וּלְתִפְאֶרֶת וְלִתְהִלָּה.
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
Come, let us go to welcome the Shabbat, for it is the source of blessing; from the beginning, from aforetime, it was chosen; last in creation, first in [G‑d's] thought.
לִקְרַאת שַׁבָּת לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה, כִּי הִיא מְקוֹר הַבְּרָכָה, מֵרֹאשׁ מִקֶּדֶם נְסוּכָה, סוֹף מַעֲשֶׂה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה.
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
Sanctuary of the King, royal city, arise, go forth from the ruins; too long have you dwelt in the vale of tears; He will show you abounding mercy.
מִקְּדַשׁ מֶלֶךְ עִיר מְלוּכָה, קוּמִי צְאִי מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה, רַב לָךְ שֶׁבֶת בְּעֵמֶק הַבָּכָא, וְהוּא יַחֲמוֹל עָלַיִךְ חֶמְלָה.
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
Shake the dust off yourself, arise, don your glorious garments — my people. Through the son of Yishai of Bet Lechem, draw near to my soul and redeem it.
הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר קוּמִי, לִבְשִׁי בִּגְדֵי תִפְאַרְתֵּךְ עַמִּי, עַל יַד בֶּן יִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי, קָרְבָה אֶל נַפְשִׁי גְאָלָה.
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
Arouse yourself, arouse yourself, for your light has come; arise, shine. Awake, awake, utter a song; the glory of the L-rd is revealed upon you.
הִתְעוֹרְרִי הִתְעוֹרְרִי, כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ קוּמִי אוֹרִי, עוּרִי עוּרִי שִׁיר דַּבֵּרִי, כְּבוֹד יְיָ עָלַיִךְ נִגְלָה.
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
Do not be ashamed nor confounded; why are you downcast and why are you agitated? The afflicted of my people will find refuge in you; the city will be rebuilt on its former site.
לֹא תֵבֹשִׁי וְלֹא תִכָּלְמִי, מַה תִּשְׁתּוֹחֲחִי וּמַה תֵּהֲמִי, בָּךְ יֶחֱסוּ עֲנִיֵּי עַמִּי, וְנִבְנְתָה הָעִיר עַל תִּלָּה.
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
Those who despoil you will be despoiled, and all who would destroy you will be far away. Your G‑d will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
וְהָיוּ לִמְשִׁסָּה שׁוֹאֲסָיִךְ, וְרָחֲקוּ כָּל מְבַלְּעָיִךְ יָשִׂישׂ עָלַיִךְ אֱלֹקַיִךְ, כִּמְשׂוֹשׂ חָתָן עַל כַּלָּה .
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
To the right and to the left you shall spread out, and the L-rd you shall extol. And we shall rejoice and exult, through the man who is a descendant of Peretz.
יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל תִּפְרוֹצִי, וְאֶת יְיָ תַּעֲרִיצִי, עַל יַד אִישׁ בֶּן פָּרְצִי, וְנִשְׂמְחָה וְנָגִילָה.
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
Come in peace, O crown of her Husband, both with songs and gladness; among the faithful, the beloved people, come, O Bride, come, O Bride.
בּוֹאִי בְשָׁלוֹם עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ, גַּם בְּרִנָּה וּבְצָהֳלָה, תוֹךְ אֱמוּנֵי עַם סְגֻלָּה, בּוֹאִי כַלָּה, בּוֹאִי כַלָּה, בּוֹאִי כַלָּה. שַׁבָּת מַלְכוּתָהּ.
Come, my Beloved, to meet the Bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
Transliteration:
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
Shah-mohr vi-zah-khohr bi-dee-boor eh-khahd heesh-mee-ah-noo ayl hahm-yoo-khahd
ah-doh-noi eh-khahd oosh-moh eh-khahd li-shaym ool-tee-feh-reht vi-lee-thee-lah.
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
leek-raht shah-baht li-khoo vi-nayl-khah kee hee mi-kohr hahb-rah-khah
may-rohsh mee-keh-dehm ni-soo-khah sohf mah-ah-sׂeh bi-mah-khah-shah-vah ti-khee-lah.
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
meek-dahsh meh-lekh eer mi-loo-khah koo-mee tzee mee-tokh hah-hah-fay-khah
rahv lakh sheh-veht bay-mehk hah-bah-khah vi-hoo yah-khah-mohl ah-lah-yeekh khehm-lah.
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
heet-nah-ah-ree may-ah-fahr koo-mee leev-shee beeg-day tee-fahr-taykh ah-mee
ahl yahd behn yee-shai bayt hah-lah-khmee kahr-vah ehl nahf-shee gah-lah.
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
ee-tohr-ree hee-tohr-ree kee vah oh-raykh koo-mee oh-ree
oo-ree oo-ree sheer dah-bay-ree ki-vohd ah-doh-noi ah-lah-yeekh neeg-lah.
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
loh tay-voh-shee vi-loh tee-kahl-mee mah teesh-toh-khah-khee oo-mah tay-hah-mee
bakh yeh-kheh-soo ah-nee-ay ah-mee vi-neev-ntah eer ahl tee-lah
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
vi-hah-yoo leem-shee-sah shoh-ah-sah-yeekh vi-rah-khah-koo kohl mi-vah-lah-yeekh.
yah-sׂee-sׂ ah-lah-yeekh eh-loh-kah-yeekh keem-sׂoh-sׂ khah-tahn ahl kah-lah.
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
yah-meen oo-sׂmohl teef-roh-tzee veht ah-doh-noi tah-ah-ree-tzee
ahl yahd eesh behn pahr-tzee vi-nee-sׂmkhah vi-nah-gee-lah
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
boh-ee vi-shah-lohm ah-teh-reht bah-lah
gahm bi-ree-nah oov-tzah-hah-lah
tokh eh-moo-nay ahm si-goo-lah
boh-ee khah-lah boh-ee khah-lah boh-ee khah-lah.
shah-baht mahl-khoo-tah.
li-khah doh-dee leek-raht kah-lah pi-nay shah-baht ni-kahb-lah
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