Morning Seliḥot • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ https://opensiddur.org/shared/prayers/solilunar/everyday/daytime/morning-seliḥot/ a community-grown, libre Open Access archive of Jewish prayer and liturgical resources Fri, 18 Sep 2026 01:51:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.1 https://opensiddur.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Open-Siddur-Project-Logo-2015-5509b4bdv1_site_icon-250x250.png Morning Seliḥot • the Open Siddur Project ✍ פְּרוֺיֶקְט הַסִּדּוּר הַפָּתוּחַ https://opensiddur.org/shared/prayers/solilunar/everyday/daytime/morning-seliḥot/ 32 32 אֲדוֹן הַסְּלִיחוֹת | Adon haSeliḥot, a pizmon for Seliḥot and Yom Kippur with an alphabetic acrostic translation by Rabbi David de Sola Pool (1937) https://opensiddur.org/prayers/lunisolar/days-of-judgement-new-year-days/yom-kippur/adon-haselihot-a-pizmon-for-selihot-and-yom-kippur/ https://opensiddur.org/prayers/lunisolar/days-of-judgement-new-year-days/yom-kippur/adon-haselihot-a-pizmon-for-selihot-and-yom-kippur/#respond Fri, 12 Mar 2021 18:32:09 +0000 https://opensiddur.org/?p=36059 Source (Hebrew) Translation (English)
רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן.
חָטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ
רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ׃
Merciful and Gracious One,
we have sinned before you,
have mercy upon us.
אֲדוֹן הַסְּלִיחוֹת.
בּוֹחֵן לְבָבוֹת.
גּוֹלֶה עֲמוּקוֹת.
דּוֹבֵר צְדָקוֹת.
חָטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ
רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ׃
Awesome God,
Beneficent and good to all your creatures,
Clothed in right,
Declaring truth,
God we have sinned before you;
have mercy on us.
הָדוּר בְּנִפְלָאוֹת.
וָתִיק בְּנֶֽחָמוֹת.
זוֹכֵר בְּרִית אָבוֹת.
חוֹקֵר כְּלָיוֹת׃
חָטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ
רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ׃
Ever constant in comforts,
Foreseeing,
Glorious in wonders,
Hearkening to prayers,
God we have sinned before you;
have mercy on us.
טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַבְּרִיּוֹת.
יוֹדֵעַ כָּל־נִסְתָּרוֹת.
כּוֹבֵשׁ עֲוֺנוֹת.
לוֹבֵשׁ צְדָקוֹת׃
חָטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ
רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ׃
Invoking the generations,
Judging in knowledge,
Knowing all that is hidden,
Lord of forgiveness.
Moving o’er the skies,
God we have sinned before you;
have mercy on us.
מָלֵא זָֽכִיּוֹת.
נוֹרָא תְהִלּוֹת.
סוֹלֵֽחַ עֲוֺנוֹת.
עוֹנֶה בַצָּרוֹת׃
חָטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ
רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ׃
Nigh in trouble, overflowing in virtue,
Pardoning sins,
Quelling sinfulness,
Remembering the covenant with the fathers,
God we have sinned before you;
have mercy on us.
פּוֹעֵל יְשׁוּעוֹת.
צוֹפֶה עֲתִידוֹת.
קוֹרֵא הַדּוֹרוֹת.
רוֹכֵב עֲרָבוֹת.
שׁוֹמֵֽעַ תְּפִלּוֹת.
תְּמִים דֵּעוֹת׃
חָטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ
רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ׃
Searcher of inmost feelings,
Tester of hearts,
Uncovering the depths,
Venerated in praises,
Working salvation,
God we have sinned before you;
have mercy on us.
אֵל רַחוּם שְׁמָךְ.
אֵל חַנּוּן שְׁמָךְ.
אֵל אֶרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם שְׁמָךְ.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים שְׁמָךְ.
בָּנוּ נִקְרָא שְׁמָךְ.
יְיָ עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן שְׁמֶֽךָ׃
Merciful El!
Gracious El!
El long-suffering!
Abounding in mercy! These are your name,
and we are called by your name.
Have mercy, then, YHVH in justice to your name.

This is the alphabetic acrostic pizmon “Adon haSeliḥot” recited during seliḥot and on Yom Kippur in the liturgical custom of Sefarad. The alphabetic acrostic translation is by Rabbi David de Sola Pool, from his maḥzor for Rosh haShanah, Tefilot l’Rosh haShanah (1937), p. 36-37. I have replaced archaisms ‘Thy’ and ‘Thee’ with ‘you’ and ‘your’ and re-hebraicized divine names. –Aharon Varady

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אֲדוֹן הַסְּלִיחוֹת | Adon haSeliḥot (Lord of Forgiveness), a pizmon for Seliḥot and Yom Kippur https://opensiddur.org/prayers/lunisolar/days-of-judgement-new-year-days/yom-kippur/lord-of-forgiveness/ https://opensiddur.org/prayers/lunisolar/days-of-judgement-new-year-days/yom-kippur/lord-of-forgiveness/#respond Mon, 14 Sep 2020 18:48:37 +0000 https://opensiddur.org/?p=33595 Source (Hebrew) Translation (English)
רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן.
חַטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ
רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ׃
Merciful and gracious One,
we have sinned before you;
have mercy on us.
אֲדוֹן הַסְּלִיחוֹת
בּוֹחֵן לְּבָבוֹת
גּוֹלֶה עֲמוּקוֹת
דּוֹבֵר צְּדָקוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ׃
Lord of forgiveness,  
Knower of thoughts  
Revealer of the Concealed,  
Speak of truths  
We have sinned before you, have mercy upon us.
הָדוּר בְּנִפְּלָאוֹת
וָתִיק בְּנֶחָמוֹת
זוֹכֵר בְּרִית אָבוֹת
חוֹקֵר כְּלָיוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ׃
Glorious in wonders,  
Veteran in comforts  
Remembers ancestral covenant,  
Knower of Inner Thoughts  
We have sinned before you, have mercy upon us.
טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַבְּרִיּוֹת
יוֹדֵעַ כׇל נִסְּתָרוֹת
כּוֹבֵשׁ עֲוֺנוֹת
לוֹבֵשׁ צְּדָקוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ׃
Good and beneficent to humanity,  
Knowing all hidden things,  
Overcomes sins,  
Clothed in righteousness  
We have sinned before you, have mercy upon us.
מָלֵא זְּכֻיּוֹת
נוֹרָא תְּהִלּוֹת
סוֹלֵחַ עֲוֺנוֹת
עוֹנֶה בְּעֵת צָרוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ׃
Full of purities,  
Awesome in praises  
Forgiving of sins,  
Answerer in time of trouble  
We have sinned before you, have mercy upon us.
פּוֹעֵל יְּשׁוּעוֹת
צוֹפֶה עֲתִידוֹת
קוֹרֵא הַדּוֹרוֹת
רוֹכֵב עֲרָבוֹת
שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלּוֹת
תְּמִים דֵּעוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ׃
Bridger of deliverance,  
Seer of futures  
Calling to the generations,  
Rider of clouds  
Hearer of Prayer,  
Perfect in knowledge  
We have sinned before you, have mercy upon us.
אֵל רַחוּם שְׁמָךְ
אֵל חַנּוּן שְׁמָךְ
אֵל אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם שְׁמָךְ
מָלֵא רַֽחֲמִים שְׁמָךְ
בָּֽנוּ נִקְרָא שְׁמָךְ
יְיֲ עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן שְׁמָךְ׃
Merciful El is your name.
Gracious El is your name.
Long-suffering El is your name.
Abounding in mercy is your name
and we are called by your name.
YHVH, have mercy for the sake of your name!

The central portion of the translation offered here was adapted from a translation offered by Rav Siach, an initiative of the Masorti Movement in Israel.

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אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם | Avinu Shebashamayim, an acrostic supplication recited during Seliḥot https://opensiddur.org/prayers/life-cycle/living/repenting-resetting-reconsiliation/avinu-shebashamayim-a-supplication-recited-during-selihot/ https://opensiddur.org/prayers/life-cycle/living/repenting-resetting-reconsiliation/avinu-shebashamayim-a-supplication-recited-during-selihot/#respond Sun, 05 Sep 2021 20:35:40 +0000 https://opensiddur.org/?p=38942 Seder Akhilat haSimanim for 5781. It is a variant of the prayer, "Eloheinu Shebashamayim," a supplication read in the sephardic tradition during seliḥot. This version contains twenty-five lines as found in Sefer Selihot haShalem, Hazon Ovadia, p.48-51/. Other variations have fifty or more lines. ]]> Source (Hebrew) Translation (English)
אָבִ֫ינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַ֫יִם,
שְׁמַע קוֹלֵ֫נוּ וְקַבֵּל תְּפִלָּתֵ֫נוּ בְּרָצוֹן:
Our Parent Who is in heaven,
hear our voice and accept our prayer!
אַל תְּאַבְּדֵ֫נוּ בְּאֹרֶךְ גָּלוּתֵ֫נוּ:
בַּשְֹּרֵ֫נוּ בְּשׂוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת:
גְּזֹר עָלֵ֫ינוּ גְּזֵרוֹת טוֹבוֹת:
Let us not disappear in our exile;  
bring us good tidings;  
decree upon us only good;  
דְּרַשְׁנ֫וּךָ הִמָּצֵא לָ֫נוּ:
הֵעָתֵר לָ֫נוּ הַיּוֹם וּבְכָ֯ל יוֹם וָיוֹם בִּתְפִלָּתֵ֫נוּ:
וְנִקְרָא וְאַתָּה תַעֲנֵ֫נוּ:
זָ̊כְרֵ֫נוּ בְּזִכְרוֹן טוֹב מִלְּפָנֶ֫יךָ:
let us find You when we seek;  
respond today and every day to our prayer;  
answer us when we call upon You;  
remember our good;  
חוּס וְרַחֵם עָלֵ֫ינוּ:
טַהֲרֵ֫נוּ מֵעֲווֹנֵ֫ינוּ:
יֶהֱמוּ נָא רַחֲמֶ֫יךָ עָלֵ֫ינוּ:
כְּבֹשׁ אֶת עֲווֺנוֹתֵ֫נוּ:
be compassionate and merciful with us;  
cleanse us of sin;  
be generous with your mercy for us;  
overcome our sins;  
לְחַם אֶת לוֹחֲמֵ֫ינוּ:
מַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹת לִבֵּ֫נוּ לְטוֹבָה לַעֲבוֹדָתֶ֫ךָ:
נָא חוּסָה כְּרֹב רַחֲמֶ֫יךָ:
סְמֹךְ אֶת נְפִילָתֵ֫נוּ:
tender us our nourishment;  
fulfill those of our desires that are appropriate and consistent with Your activity;  
be compassionate according to the greatness of Your mercy;  
support those of us who have fallen;  
עֲנֵ֫נוּ בְּיוֹם קָ֯רְאֵ֫נוּ:
פְּדֵ֫נוּ מִידֵי כָּ̊ל צָרָה:
צַדְּקֵ֫נוּ בְּמִשְׁפָּטֶ֫יךָ:
קָ֯רְבֵ֫נוּ לַעֲבוֹדָתֶ֫ךָ:
answer on the day when we call;  
rescue us from all trouble;  
find us innocent when You judge;  
bring us close for Your service;  
רְאֵה בְּדֹחַק הַשָּׁעָה:
שִׁית שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵ֫ינוּ:
תֵּן שָׁלוֹם בָּאָ֫רֶץ:
recognize the emergency at this time;  
install peace among us;  
grant peace to our land.  
וְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן
וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.
May this be the Divine will,
and let us say, “Amen”.

This prayer appears on page 11-14 of Hayyim Obadya’s Seder Akhilat haSimanim for 5781. It is a variant of the prayer, “Eloheinu Shebashamayim,” a supplication read in the sephardic tradition during seliḥot. This version contains twenty-five lines as found in Sefer Selihot haShalem, Hazon Ovadia, p.48-51/. Other variations have fifty or more lines.

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בֶּן אָדָם מַה־לְּךָ נִרְדָּם | ben Adam Mah L’kha Nirdam (rhyming Ladino translation by Rabbi Reuven Eliyahu Yisrael of Craiova, 1910) https://opensiddur.org/prayers/solilunar/everyday/daytime/morning-seli%e1%b8%a5ot/ben-adam-mah-lkha-nirdam-rhyming-ladino-translation-by-reuven-eliyahu-yisrael-of-craiova-1910/ https://opensiddur.org/prayers/solilunar/everyday/daytime/morning-seli%e1%b8%a5ot/ben-adam-mah-lkha-nirdam-rhyming-ladino-translation-by-reuven-eliyahu-yisrael-of-craiova-1910/#respond Fri, 21 Aug 2026 02:48:52 +0000 https://opensiddur.org/?p=68892 טראדוקסייון ליברי די לאס פואיזיאס איבראיקאאס). To demonstrate the techniques used by R. Yisrael in his translation, a literal translation of the Ladino, as well as a transcription into the Latin-script Aki Yerushalaim orthography, is also provided.]]> “ben Adam Mah Lekha Nirdam,” of unclear origin, is the opening piyyuṭ of the Sephardic seliḥot service every morning. Drawing a parallel between the literal slumber from which the petitioner has just awoken and the metaphorical slumber of sin, it serves as a fitting introduction to the early morning liturgy. As with any piyyuṭ in such a prominent place, of course, has been translated into the colloquial for all the people to appreciate its language.

The following is not only the complete Hebrew text of Ben Adam Ma Lekha Nirdam along with a new English translation, but also a rhyming Ladino translation composed by R. Reuven Eliyahu Yisrael, the spiritual leader of the Sephardic community of Craiova, Romania, and published in the aforementioned town in the year 1910 (in טראדוקסייון ליברי די לאס פואיזיאס איבראיקאאס). To demonstrate the techniques used by R. Yisrael in his translation, a literal translation of the Ladino, as well as a transcription into the Latin-script Aki Yerushalaim orthography, is also provided.


Source (Hebrew) Translation (English) Translation (Ladino) Translation (Ladino, romanized) Translation of the Ladino (English)
בֶּן אָדָם
מַה־לְּךָ֣ נִרְדָּ֑ם
ק֚וּם קְרָ֣א בְּתַחֲנוּנִים׃
Mortal child,
why do you sleep?
Rise, call[1] Jonah 1:5  in petitions!
אומברי מורטאל פורקי דואירמיס?
איס טיימפו קי רוגיס אי טי קונייוריס
Ombre mortal, porke duermes?
Es tiempo ke roges i te konyores.
Mortal human, why do you sleep?
It is time you plead and weep together,
שְׁפֹךְ שִׂיחָה
דְּרֹשׁ סְלִיחָה
מֵאֲדוֹן הָאֲדוֹנִים׃
Pour out meditation,
seek forgiveness
from the Master of Masters!
אז אוראסייון, אימפלורה איל פארדון
דיל סינייור די לוס סינייוריס!
Az orasyon, implora el pardon
del Sinyor de los Sinyores!
do prayer, implore forgiveness
from the Lord of Lords!
רְחַץ וּטְהַר
וְאַל תְּאַחַר
בְּטֶֽרֶם יָמִים פּוֹנִים׃
Hurry and cleanse,
and do not delay,
before days pass.
אנטיס די טוס דיאס סי טירמינין,
קוריזﬞאטי די טוס אובﬞראס פיאוריס
Antes de tus dias se terminan,
korejate de tus ovras peores.
Before your days are over,
correct yourself of your worst deeds.
וּמְהֵרָה
רוּץ לְעֶזְרָה
לִפְנֵי שׁוֹכֵן מְעוֹנִים׃
And quickly,
run to help
before the Dweller in the Heights.
איל דייו די סיילו טי אלייודארה,
סי אונדי איל קון פריסה קורריס
El Dio de sielo te ayudara,
se onde El kon prisa kores.
The God of heaven will help you,
who is wherever you run quickly to Them.
וּמִפֶּֽשַׁע
וְגַם רֶֽשַׁע
בְּרַח וּפְחַד מֵאֲסוֹנִים׃
And from iniquity
and also evil
flee, and fear disasters.
פﬞוליי די ריבﬞילייוס אי מאליסייאס,
פינסה קי איי קאסטיגו אי דולוריס
Fuye de reveyos i malisiyas,
pensa ke ay kastigo i dolores.
Flee from iniquities and evil acts;
recall that there is castigation and pain.
אָנָּא שְׁעֵה
שִׁמְךָ יוֹדְעֵי
יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶאֱמָנִים׃
Please, answer
Your Name’s knowers,
Israel, the faithful!
דייו! קודייה די טו פואיבﬞלו ישראל
טוס פﬞידיליס אי טוס סירבﬞידוריס.
Dio! Kudia de Tu puevlo Yisrael
Tus fideles i Tus servedores.
God! Care for Your people Israel
Your faithful and Your servants.
לְךָ֤ אֲדֹנָי֙ הַצְּדָקָ֔ה
וְלָ֛נוּ בֹּ֥שֶׁת הַפָּנִ֖ים׃ (דניאל ט:ז)
Yours, my Master, is righteousness,
and ours is shame-facedness![2] This verse is not translated in the Ladino, but rather preserved as a Hebrew refrain.  (Daniel 9:7)
לְךָ֤ אֲדֹנָי֙ הַצְּדָקָ֔ה
וְלָ֛נוּ בֹּ֥שֶׁת הַפָּנִ֖ים׃ (דניאל ט:ז)
Leha Adonay asedaka,
velanu boshed apanim.
Yours, my Master, is righteousness,
and ours is shame-facedness! (Daniel 9:7)
עֲמֹד כְּגֶֽבֶר
וְהִתְגַּבֵּר
לְהִתְוַדּוֹת עַל־חֲטָאִים׃
Stand like a man
and strengthen yourself
to acknowledge your sins.
אומברי, ליבﬞאנטה אי איספﬞורטאטי
פור אטורגאר טוס פיקאדוס
Ombre, levanta i esfortate
por aturgar tus pekados.
Human, rise and be strong
to overcome your sins.
יָהּ אֵל דְּרֹשׁ
בְּכֹֹֽבֶד רֹאשׁ
לְכַפֵּר עַל־פְּשָׁעִים׃
Seek Yah the deity
with a heavy head
to atone for iniquities.
רוגה אל דייו קון אבאטיסייון
פור קי טי סיאן פירדונאדוס
Roga al Dio kon abatision,
por ke te sean perdonados.
Plead to God with abjection,
that you may be forgiven.
כִּי לְעוֹלָם
לֹא נֶעְלָם
מִמֶּֽנּוּ נִפְלָאִים׃
For forever
unhidden
from Them are wonders,
פור קי טוס אקטוס אסקונדידוס,
דילאנטרי די איל סון אקלאראדוס
Por ke tus aktos eskondidos,
delante de El son aklarados,
For your hidden acts
before Them are made clear
וְכׇל־מַאֲמָר
אֲשֶׁר יֵאָמַר
לְפָנָיו הֵם נִקְרָאִים׃
and every statement
that is said
is called before Them.
אי טודוס לוס ביירבﬞוס קי טו פרונונסייאס,
דילאנטרי די איל סון איגזאמינאדוס.
i todos los biervos ke tu pronunsias,
delante de El son egzaminados.
and all the words that you pronounce
are examined before Them.
הַמְּרַחֵם
הוּא יְרַחֵם
עָלֵֽינוּ כְּרַחֵ֣ם אָ֭ב עַל־בָּנִ֑ים׃ (תהלים קג:יג)
May the Merciful One
have mercy
on us, as a father has mercy on children! (Psalm 103:13)
סיגון אפיאדה איל פאדרי אה סוס איזﬞוס,
סיאמוס די איל אפיאדאדוס!
Segun apiada el padre a sus ijos,
seamos de El apiadados!
As a father has mercy on his children,
may we experience Their mercy!
לְךָ֤ אֲדֹנָי֙ הַצְּדָקָ֔ה
וְלָ֛נוּ בֹּ֥שֶׁת הַפָּנִ֖ים׃ (דניאל ט:ז)
Yours, my Master, is righteousness,
and ours is shame-facedness! (Daniel 9:7)
לְךָ֤ אֲדֹנָי֙ הַצְּדָקָ֔ה
וְלָ֛נוּ בֹּ֥שֶׁת הַפָּנִ֖ים׃ (דניאל ט:ז)
Leha Adonay asedaka,
velanu boshed apanim.
Yours, my Master, is righteousness,
and ours is shame-facedness! (Daniel 9:7)

Source(s)

ben Adam – Traduksyon livre de las poezias ebraikas de Rosh ha-Shana i Kippur 5670 (Reuven Eliyahu Israel, 1910), p. 1

 

Notes

Notes
1 Jonah 1:5
2 This verse is not translated in the Ladino, but rather preserved as a Hebrew refrain.
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סליחה מר׳ יצחק אבן גיאת | Seliḥah by Yitsḥaq ben Yehudah Ibn Ghayyat (ca. 11th century) translated by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi https://opensiddur.org/prayers/lunisolar/days-of-judgement-new-year-days/yom-kippur/selihah-by-ibn-ghayyat-11th-century/ https://opensiddur.org/prayers/lunisolar/days-of-judgement-new-year-days/yom-kippur/selihah-by-ibn-ghayyat-11th-century/#respond Sun, 24 Sep 2017 23:53:10 +0000 http://opensiddur.org/?p=17543 The following love poem is one of the Seliḥot recited between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Ibn Gayat (1038 – 1089) was not timid about using the most intimate symbols in asking God to become reconciled with us.


Source (Hebrew) Translation (English)
אֵלְכָה וְאָשׁוּבָה אֶל־אִישִׁי הָרִאשׁוֹן.
אֲשֶׁר מֵאָז נְצָרַנִי כְאִישׁוֹן.
בָּחוּר כָּאֲרָזִים תְּהִלָּתוֹ בְּכָל לָשׁוֹן.
בְּזָכְרִי בוֹ אֵינֶנּוּ מַנִּיחַ לִי לִישׁוֹן:
I must return to my very first lover,
Like an eye’s pupil He kept me safe,
Tall is my beloved like a cedar,
I can’t sleep when I think of Him.
גְּאָלַנִי בִּזְרֹעַ מִבֵּין קְדֵשִׁים.
גַּם כְּלָלַנִי יֹפִי וְכֵלִים חֲדָשִׁים.
דִבֶּר־בִּי עַל־פִּי קְדוֹשִׁים.
דִּבְּקַנִי אֶצְלוֹ בִּכְתֻבָּה וְקִדּוּשִׁים:
How He rescued me from vile hands,
How He wed me in all new robes,
Speaking to me in holy words,
Honoring me with sacred pact.
הִרְבָּה מֹהַר וּמִקְנֶה וְקִנְיָן.
הִגְדִּיל הַשִׂמְחָה בְּכָל־עִנְיָן.
וְסִיֵד וְכִיֵר בֵּית חַתְנוּת בִּנְיָן.
וּמָסַר לְשָׁרְתֵנִי עֲלָמוֹת אֵין מִנְיָן:
Endowering me with ample boon,
Amidst many joys, delights supreme,
Our tryst He stocked for intimacy,
Countless lasses in waiting He set to serve me.
זֶבַח הֵכִין ושִׁלֵּם נְדָרָיו.
זְבָדַנִי זֶבֶד טוֹב בַּחֲדָרָיו.
חֲצֵרוֹת קְטֻרוֹת תִּכּוֹן סְדָרָיו.
חֲתָנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ הֱבִיאַנִי חֲדָרָיו:
The choicest foods to fulfill His pledge,
In His inner chambers He cleaved to me,
While in the courtyards they spiced the air,
My Royal Lover took me into His chambers.
טָבַלְתִּי וּבָאתִי בַּעְדִי עֲדָיִים.
טַהֲרוֹתַי נָתְנוּ רֵיחַ דוּדָאִים.
יְצוּעִי עָלָה וְלָן בֵּין שָׁדַיִם.
יְמִינוֹ חִבְּקַנִי חִבּוּק יָדָיִם:
And I, bathed,
To purity my scent arousing,
He mounted our couch and between my breasts,
He laid, embraced me and held me…
כִּמְעַט רֶגַע אִירַע דָּבָר.
כָּבוֹד הֵמִיר וְחֹק חַק שָׁבַר.
לֶכְתִּי דֶרֶךְ בָּרוּחַ וְלֹא לְהָבַר.
לַצְתִּי וְאַצְתִּי וָדוֹדִי חָמַק עָבָר:
And in the wink of an eye it happened,
All broken – betrayed –
As I went off with attitude defiant,
Mocking, and dazed, my Lover, now disengaged, was gone.
מֵעַי הָמוּ לְדוֹדִי קָנַנִי.
מַה־לִּידִידִי בִּטֵּל אֲשֶׁר הִתְנַנִי.
נָסַע מֵעָלַי וְלֹא חַנַּנִי.
נְאֻם בִּקַּשְׁתִּיו וְלֹא מְצָאתִיו קְרָאתִיו וְלֹא עָנָנִי.
My guts wrenched, keening for my Dear One,
What was it that I upset? What drove Him away?
He is gone now and no comfort left me,
How I sought Him to no avail, called Him to no response.
סוּרָה אֲדוֹנִי סוּרָה חִנַּנְתִּיו כַּמֶּה.
סֹב וְלֹא פָנָה הוֹחַלְתִּי עַד מֶה.
עָלַי לִבִּי כְּכִנּוֹר יֶהֱמֶה.
עֵינִי נִגְּרָה וְלֹא תִדְמֶה:
“Do turn back, My Lord,” I wailed,
He had gone and I waited in vain hope,
While my heart cried like a sad violin,
My eyes in tears that do not dry.
פִּקְפֵּק בְּכָבוֹד לְמוֹרַד עֲנִיּוּת.
פִּתְחֵי נִדָּה שָׂם נְקִיּוּת.
צָנִיף צְנָפַנִי כַּדּוּר דְּחִיּוּת.
צְרוּרָה צְעוּרָה אַלְמְנוּת חַיּוּת:
I lost my dignity, I felt degraded,
Besmirched and defiled, foul and dirty,
Thrown, tossed about
And despised, like a young widow.
קַוֹה קִוִּיתִי יְיָ יוֹם נֶחָמָה.
קִרְבַת נְטוּשָׁה בְּאַף וּבְחֵמָה.
רִשְׁפֵי אֵשׁ הָיָה לָּהּ לְחוֹמָה.
רַחֵם תְּרַחֵם אֶת־לֹא רֻחָמָה:
I hoped for the day of comfort,
My vulnerable need has turned to frustration,
Flames of longing have become a wall,
O mercy, please, for one not pitied.
שׁוּבִי שׁוּבִי הַשּׁוּלַמִּית מִבֵּין שֹׁסַיִךְ.
שׁוּבִי וְנֶחֱזֶה־בָּךְ יֹאמַר עֹשַׂיִךְ.
תִּקְעִי כַף מִלְּבָנוֹן רָצִיתִי מַעֲשַׂיִךְ.
תְּעוֹרֵר אַהֲבָתֵךְ כִּי בֹעֲלַיִךְ עֹשָׂיִךְ:
Come back, come back, O Shulamit, freed from your hurt,
From your desolation, your Maker seeks to behold you,
Come quick lift your feet and swiftly come from Lebanon
We are reconciled, arouse your love again your Lover will restore you,
יָדֹעַ תֵדַע פְּנֵי צֹאנֶךָ.
צִיּוֹן מִכְלַל יֹפִי הֵטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנֶךָ.
חֲסִידֶיךָ רַנֵּן יְרַנֵּנוּ צִדְקוֹת פִרְזוֹנֶךָ.
קוֹלִי שָׁמָעְתָּ אַל־תַּעְלֵם אָזְנֶךָ:
You shall know clearly the face of Your flock
Zion, the glorious, grant her the goodness of Your desire
Your devotees will sing and acclaim the adventure
Yes You heard my voice! You did not avert Your Ear.

Reb Zalman’s translation was first published at Jewish Renewal Chasidus, here. Many thanks to Gabbai Seth Fishman for helping to make this translation accessible.

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