בָּרוּךְ אֵל עֶלְיוֹן Blessed is the most high Almighty
אֲשֶׁר נָתַן מְנוּחָה. Who gave rest—
לְנַפְשֵֽׁנוּ פִדְיוֹם מִשֵּׁאת וַאֲנָחָה. for our souls relief—from calamity and woe;
וְהוּא יִדְרוֹשׁ לְצִיּוֹן. and He will seek out Zion,
עִיר הַנִּדָּחָה. the outcast city.
עַד אָֽנָה תּוּגְיוֹן. How much longer will there be grief
נֶֽפֶשׁ נֶאֱנָחָה: for a sighing soul?
Refrain:
הַשּׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת -The preserver of the Sabbath—
הַבֵּן עִם הַבַּת. man and woman alike—
לָאֵל יֵרָצוּ are to the Almighty as pleasing
כְּמִנְחָה עַל מַחֲבַת: as a meal-offering in a [sacred] pan.
רוֹכֵב בָּעֲרָבוֹת. He Who rides atop the heavens,
מֶֽלֶךְ עוֹלָמִים. King of the worlds,
אֶת עַמּוֹ לִשְׁבּוֹת. that His people rest on the Sabbath
אִזֵּן בַּנְּ֒עִימִים. He caused them to hear pleasantly;38The law of Shabbos was one of the Ten Commandments which Israel received at Mt. Sinai. The commandments were all pleasant to the Jews.
בְּמַאֲכָלֵי עֲרֵבוֹת. [to enjoy the Sabbath] with tasty foods,
בְּמִינֵי מַטְעַמִּים. with varied delicacies,
בְּמַלְבּוּשֵׁי כָבוֹד with elegant garments,
זֶֽבַח מִשְׁפָּחָה. and a family feast.
Refrain:
הַשּׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת -The preserver of the Sabbath—
הַבֵּן עִם הַבַּת. man and woman alike—
לָאֵל יֵרָצוּ are to the Almighty as pleasing
כְּמִנְחָה עַל מַחֲבַת: as a meal-offering in a [sacred] pan.
וְאַשְׁרֵי כָּל חוֹכֶה. Fortunate is everyone who anticipates
לְתַשְׁלוּמֵי כֵפֶל. the double reward39A person is rewarded doubly for all he spends to beautify and enhance the enjoyment of Shabbos.
מֵאֵת כֹּל סוֹכֶה. from the One Who sees all
שׁוֹכֵן בָּעֲרָפֶל. Who dwells in the dense cloud.
נַחֲלָה לוֹ יִזְכֶּה. An inheritance he will merit for himself
בָּהָר וּבַשָּֽׁפֶל. in the mountain and in the valley;
נַחֲלָה וּמְנוּחָה. an inheritance and a resting-place
כַּשֶּֽׁמֶשׁ לוֹ זָרְ֒חָה. like him for whom the sun shone.40Him refers to Jacob for whom the healthy rays of the sun shone especially after his battle with the guardian angel of Esau. See Genesis 32:32, “The sun shone for him.”
Refrain:
הַשּׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת -The preserver of the Sabbath—
הַבֵּן עִם הַבַּת. man and woman alike—
לָאֵל יֵרָצוּ are to the Almighty as pleasing
כְּמִנְחָה עַל מַחֲבַת: as a meal-offering in a [sacred] pan.
כָּל שׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת כַּדָּת Whoever preserves the Sabbath properly,
מֵחַלְ֒לוֹ. not permitting its desecration,
הֵן הֶכְשֵׁר is qualified
חִבַּת קֹֽדֶשׁ גּוֹרָלוֹ. that love of holiness be his lot.
וְאִם יֵצֵא חוֹבַת הַיּוֹם And if he fulfills the obligations of the day,
אַשְׁרֵי לוֹ. fortunate is he.
אֶל אֵל אָדוֹן מְחוֹלְלוֹ. To the Almighty Master, his Creator,
מִנְחָה הִיא שְׁלוּחָה. it is an offered gift.
Refrain:
הַשּׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת -The preserver of the Sabbath—
הַבֵּן עִם הַבַּת. man and woman alike—
לָאֵל יֵרָצוּ are to the Almighty as pleasing
כְּמִנְחָה עַל מַחֲבַת: as a meal-offering in a [sacred] pan.
חֶמְדַּת הַיָּמִים. “Most desired of days”
קְרָאוֹ אֵלִי צוּר. it was acclaimed by my God, [my] strength.
וְאַשְׁרֵי לִתְמִימִים. Fortunate are the perfect ones—
אִם יִהְיֶה נָצוּר. if it is kept.
כֶּתֶר הִלּוּמִים. A fitted crown
עַל רֹאשָׁם יָצוּר. is formed on their heads;
צוּר הָעוֹלָמִים. the Rock of the Worlds,
רוּחוֹ בָם נָחָה. His spirit rests within them.
Refrain:
הַשּׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת -The preserver of the Sabbath—
הַבֵּן עִם הַבַּת. man and woman alike—
לָאֵל יֵרָצוּ are to the Almighty as pleasing
כְּמִנְחָה עַל מַחֲבַת: as a meal-offering in a [sacred] pan.
זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּ֒שׁוֹ. Mention the Sabbath to sanctify it;41See notes 00 and 00 on Kiddush.
קַרְנוֹ כִּי גָבְ֒הָה its glory when raised high
נֵֽזֶר עַל רֹאשׁוֹ. is a crown on his head.42The glory of Shabbos becomes a crown on the head of the person who sanctifies it.
עַל כֵּן יִתֵּן הָאָדָם לְנַפְשׁוֹ. Therefore, let each man provide himself
עֹֽנֶג וְגַם שִׂמְחָה delight and joy—
בָּהֶם לְמָשְׁחָה. through them to exalt himself.
Refrain:
הַשּׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת -The preserver of the Sabbath—
הַבֵּן עִם הַבַּת. man and woman alike—
לָאֵל יֵרָצוּ are to the Almighty as pleasing
כְּמִנְחָה עַל מַחֲבַת: as a meal-offering in a [sacred] pan.
קֹֽדֶשׁ הִיא לָכֶם. שַׁבָּת הַמַּלְכָּה. Holy is she to you—Sabbath the Queen—
אֶל תּוֹךְ בָּתֵּיכֶם. לְהָנִֽיחַ בְּרָכָה. within your homes to place blessing.
בְּכָל מוֹשְׁ֒בוֹתֵיכֶם. In all your dwellings
לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ מְלָאכָה. you are to do no work—
בְּנֵיכֶם וּבְנוֹתֵיכֶם. [neither] your sons and daughters,
עֶֽבֶד וְגַם שִׁפְחָה. manservant and maidservant.
Refrain:
הַשּׁוֹמֵר שַׁבָּת -The preserver of the Sabbath—
הַבֵּן עִם הַבַּת. man and woman alike—
לָאֵל יֵרָצוּ are to the Almighty as pleasing
כְּמִנְחָה עַל מַחֲבַת: as a meal-offering in a [sacred] pan.