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Yedid Nefesh (Hebrew: "beloved of the soul") is the title of a piyyut and zemer. It is usually sung on Shabbat.
Traditions and origin[]
Some sing it between Minchah (afternoon prayer) of Friday and the beginning of Kabbalat Shabbat (Hebrew: "Receiving the Sabbath") — a collection of psalms usually sung to welcome in the Shabbat queen, as it were, the restful contentment that descends from above during Friday night at sundown.
It is sung by many Jews during Seudah Shlishit (The third meal on Shabbat, and the first is on Friday night, the second on Saturday lunch, and the third on Saturday before sundown). This beautiful poem was originally written by the sixteenth century Kabbalist, Rabbi Elazar Azikri, the author of Sefer Haredim. His philosophy centred around the intense love one must feel for God, a theme that is evident in this piyyut. The first letters of each of the four verses make up the four letter name of God, known in English as the tetragrammaton.
Lyrics[]
The words are as follows:
| Transliteration | English translation | Original Hebrew |
|---|---|---|
Verse 1 |
||
| Yedid Nefesh av harachaman, | Beloved of the soul, Compassionate Father, | ידיד נפש אב הרחמן |
| meshoch avdechah el retzonechah, | draw Your servant to Your Will; | משוך עבדך אל רצונך |
| ya'arutz avdechah kmo ayal, | then Your servant will hurry like a hart | ירוץ עבדך כמו איל |
| yishtachave el mul hadarecha, | to bow before Your majesty; | ישתחוה אל מול הדרך |
| ye-erav lo yedidotecha, | to him Your friendship will be sweeter | יערב לו ידידותיך |
| minofet tzuf v'chol ta-am. | than the dripping of the honeycomb and any taste. | מנפת צוף וכל טעם |
Verse 2 |
||
| Hadur na-e ziv ha-ōlom, | Majestic, Beautiful, Radiance of the universe, | הדור נאה זיו העולם |
| nafshi cholat ahavatecha, | my soul pines [lit: is sick for] for your love. | נפשי חולת אהבתך |
| ana el na r'fa na lah, | Please, O G-d, heal her now | אנא אל נא רפא נא לה |
| b'harot lah noam zivecha, | by showing her the pleasantness of Your radiance; | בהראות לה נעם זיוך |
| az teet-chazeik v'titrapei, | then she will be strengthened and healed, | אז תתחזק ותתרפא |
| v'hayta lah simchat olam | and eternal gladness will be hers. | והיתה לה שמחת עולם |
Verse 3 |
||
| Vatik yehemu na rachamecha, | Enduring One, may Your mercy be aroused | ותיק יהמו נא רחמיך |
| v'chuso na al bein ahuvecha, | and please take pity on the son of Your beloved, | וחוסה נא על בן אהובך |
| ki ze kama nichsof nichsafti, | because it is so very long that I have yearned intensely | כי זה כמה נכסף נכספתי |
| lir'ot m'heiro b'tiferet uzecha, | to see speedily to splendour of Your strength; | לראת מהרה בתפארת עזך |
| eile chamdah libi, | only these my heart desired, | אלה חמדה לבי |
| v'chuso na v'al tit-alom. | so please take pity and do not conceal Yourself | וחוסה נא ואל תתעלם |
Verse 4 |
||
| Higalei na ufros chavivi alai, | Please, my Beloved, reveal Yourself and spread upon me | הגלה נא ופרש חביבי עלי |
| et sukat shlomecha, | the shelter of Your peace; | את סכת שלומך |
| ta-ir eretz mich'vodecha, | illuminate the Earth with Your glory, | תאיר ארץ מכבודך |
| nagila v'nism'cha bach. | that we may rejoice and be glad with You; | נגילה ונשמחה בך |
| Maheir ehov ki va mo-ed, | hasten, show love, for the time has come, | מהר אהוב כי בא מועד |
| v'chaneinu kimei olom. | and show us grace as in days of old. | וחננו כימי עולם |
References[]
- Siddur Rinat Yisrael - Hotza'at Moreshet, p. 180
- Siddur Sim Shalom, RA/USCJ, p. 252
- The Complete Artscroll Siddur (סדור קול יעקב) — Nosson Scherman, Meir Zlotowitz, Sheah Brander — Mesorah Publications, p591.
- Artscroll Transliterated Linear Siddur, Sabbath and Festival (סדור זכרון אברהם) — Nosson Scherman, Benjamin Yudin, Sheah Brander — Mesorah Publications, p82.
- The Essential Shiron-Birkon — Feldheim, p90.
- The NCSY Bencher — Rothman Foundation, p51.
External links[]
- Recordings, text, translation, transliteration from The Zemirot Database
- Full transliteration and translation in an article on Shabbos afternoon and the third meal by Lori Palatnik for Aish HaTorah
- Sephardic transliteration of the first verse
- Instrumental accompaniment to the first few lines
- The first verse in Hebrew
- Transliterated text of kabbalas Shabbos including full sephardic transliteration of Yedid Nefesh
- Details of the first verse with audio from Project Zemirot
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