לכה דודי לקראת כלה
פני שבת נקבלה
בואי בשלום עטרת בעלה
גם בשמחה ובצהלה
תוך אמוני עם סגלה
בואי כלה בואי כלה
Lecha Dodi - Let's go, my beloved,
to meet the bride,
let us welcome the presence of Shabbat.
Come in peace, you crown of the divine.
Come in joy and in jubilation.
Into the midst of a faithful precious nation.
Enter, bride! Enter, bride!
(א) מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד יְקוָ֥ק רֹ֝עִ֗י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃
(ב) בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃
(ג) נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃
(ד) גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אלך בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אתה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃
(ה) תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃
(ו) אַ֤ךְ ׀ ט֤וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד ירדפוני כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י ושבתי בְּבית־יְ֝קוָ֗ק לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃
(1) A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I want for nothing. (2) He allows me to rest by green pastures; He guides me towards sweet waters; (3) He refreshes my life; He leads me on the right path for His name's sake.
(4) When I walk through dark valleys; I fear no harm, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (5) You set a table before me in the presence of my adversaries; You anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
(6) May only goodness and loving-kindness pursue me all the days of my life, and I will rest in the house of God for length of my days.
Reflection:
1) What are the times in our lives for coming together as community?
2) When is the time for retreat and recuperation?
3) Is there a difference in experience between going out to receive community vs community coming to us?
4) What's the place of individuality within community? For going at one's own pace?