Song of Songs – Transliteration

Song of Songs – Transliteration

The “Song of Songs” contains exactly 117 verses, in which the future redemption of our people is foretold. 117 is the gematria of two Names of the Almighty (31+86), in which the Almighty’s mercy is concealed behind His judgment.

It is customary to read Song of Songs on Passover because the Exodus from Egypt is mentioned exactly 117 times in the Torah.

The book Sichot HaRan” (The Conversations of Rabbi Nissim ben Reuven) relates that he instructed a sick man who had visited him at home to rise before dawn and read the entire “Song of Songs.” He said that “all forms of healing, all the healing that exists in the world is included in Song of Songs.” Indeed, immediately after following this instruction, the sick man’s health improved—he was healed.

Rabbi Akiva, the light of Israel, said: “The world was never as worthy as on the day when Song of Songs was given to Israel.”

In Song of Songs there is a pasuk: אני לדודי ודודי לי – “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine”.

The initial letters of these words form the abbreviation אלול—the month of Elul. This is because during this month the Almighty becomes a beloved friend to the Jew who does teshuvah (repents).

The final letters of these four words—אני לדודי ודודי לי—are the four letters י “yud”, whose gematria is 40 – the forty days from the beginning of Elul until Yom Kippur. After Yom Kippur come the festivals of Sukkot and Simchat Torah, and then – “she will be your wife”.

(Rabbi Moshe Shapiro based on the book Etz HaDa’at by Rabbi Chaim Vital)

In many Sephardic communities, four verses from Song of Songs are sung during Kabbalat Shabbat. There is also a custom for those who did not manage to read “Song of Songs” before Shabbat to read these verses in this order.

The initial letters of the words of these verses in the Holy Tongue form the name of our forefather Jacob: – “Yishakeni mineshekot pihu, ki tovim dodecha mi-yayin”; – “Uri tzafon uvo’i teiman, hafichi gani, yizelu vesamav, yavo dodi legano veyochal peri megadav”; – “Kol dodi hineh zeh va, medaleg al heharim, mekappetz al hageva’ot”; – “Bati legani achoti challah, ariti mori im besami, achalti ya’ri im divshi, shatiti yeini im chalavi, ichlu re’im, shetu veshichru dodim”;

P.S. Reading Song of Songs for forty days (and during the Counting of the Omer, for forty-nine days) is the finest segula for a divinely ordained match.

Song of Songs


Introduction before the prayer :

“Le-Shem Yichud Kudsha Berich Hu u-Shechinteh bidchilu u-rechimu—u-rechimu u-dichilu, leyached Shem “Yud” ve-“He” be-“Vav” ve-“He” beyichud shlem, beShem kol Yisrael hineh anachnu ba’im leshorer Shir HaShirim Kodesh Kodashim. Vetaleh lefanecha kriat Shir HaShirim ke’ilu amaro Shlomo be’atzmo, u-khilu hisagnu kol hasodot hachatumin bo”.

“Vihi noam Ad-nai Eloheinu aleinu, uma’aseh yadeinu konenah aleinu, uma’aseh yadeinu konenehu” – recite twice

1. Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. Yishakeni mineshikot pihu, ki tovim dodecha mi-yayin. Le-rei’ach shemanecha tovim, shemen turak shemecha; al ken alamot ahevucha. Moshcheni acharecha narutza, hevi’ani hamelech chadarav; nagilah venismecha vach, nazkirah dodecha mi-yayin, meisharim ahevucha. Shechorah ani vena’vah, benot Yerushalayim, ke’oholei Kedar k yeriyot Shlomo. Al tir’uni she’ani shechar choret, sheshazafatni hashemesh; benei imi nicheru vi, samuni noterah et hakeramim, karmi sheli lo natarti. Hagidah li she’ahavah nafshi, eichah tir’eh, eichah tarbitz batzohorayim; shalmah eheyeh ke’oteyah al edrei chaver echa. Im lo tedi lach hayafah banashim, tzei lach be’ikvei hatzon, ur’i et gediyotayich al mishkenot haro’im. Lesusat i berichvei Paroh dimitich ra’ayati. Na’vu lechayayich batorim, tzavareich bacharuzim. Torei zahav na’aseh lach, im nekudot hakesef. Ad shehamelech bimsibo, nirdi natan reicho. Tzeror hamor dodi li, bein shadai yalin. Eshkol hakופר dodi li, becharmei Ein Gedi. Hinach yafah ra’ayati, hinach yafah einayich yonim. Hinecha yafeh dodi, af na’im, af arsenu ra’ananah. Korot bateinu arazim, rahiteinu berotim.

2. I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Like a lily among thorns, so is my beloved among the maidens. Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I delighted and sat, and his fruit was sweet to my palate. He brought me to the wine house, and his banner over me was love. Sustain me with flagons, support me with apples, for I am lovesick. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field: do not awaken or stir up love until it pleases. The voice of my beloved! Behold, he is coming, leaping over the mountains, skipping over the hills. My beloved resembles a gazelle or a fawn. Behold, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. My beloved answered and said to me: Arise, my beloved, my fair one, and come away. For behold, the winter has passed, the rain is over and gone. The blossoms have appeared in the land; the time of singing has arrived, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree has ripened its figs, and the vines in blossom have given their fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my fair one, and come away. My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding place of the steps, show me your appearance, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet and your appearance lovely. Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that damage the vineyards, while our vineyards are in blossom. My beloved is mine, and I am his, who pastures among the lilies. Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn around, resemble a gazelle, my beloved, or a fawn, upon the mountains of Bether.

3. On my bed at night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him but did not find him. I will arise now and go around the city, through the markets and streets; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him but did not find him. The watchmen who patrol the city found me: “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I grasped him and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother’s house and to the chamber of her who conceived me. I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field: do not awaken or stir up love until it pleases. Who is this rising from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with every powder of the merchant? Behold, Solomon’s couch, surrounded by sixty warriors, by the warriors of Israel. All are armed with swords, trained in war; each man has his sword upon his thigh because of the terror of the nights. King Solomon made himself a palanquin of the wood of Lebanon. He made its pillars of silver, its covering of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was lined with love by the daughters of Jerusalem. Go forth and look, daughters of Zion, upon King Solomon, upon the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding and on the day of the joy of his heart.

4. Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved; behold, you are beautiful. Your eyes are like doves behind your veil; your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep that have come up from washing; all of them are matched, and none is bereaved among them. Your lips are like a thread of scarlet, and your speech is lovely; your temple is like a slice of pomegranate behind your veil. Your neck is like the Tower of David, built for display; a thousand shields hang upon it, all the armor of the warriors. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, grazing among the lilies. Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. You are altogether beautiful, my beloved, and there is no blemish in you. With me from Lebanon, bride; with me from Lebanon you shall come. Look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards. You have captivated my heart, my sister, bride; you have captivated my heart with one of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace. How beautiful is your love, my sister, bride; how much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than all spices. Your lips drip nectar, bride; honey and milk are beneath your tongue, and the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. A locked garden is my sister, bride; a locked spring, a sealed fountain. Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruit, henna with spikenard. Spikenard and saffron, cane and cinnamon, with every tree of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the finest spices. A garden spring, a well of living water, flowing from Lebanon. Awake, north wind, and come, south wind; blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its choice fruit.

5. I have come to my garden, my sister, bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spices, I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey, I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends; drink and become intoxicated, beloved ones. I sleep, but my heart is awake. The voice of my beloved knocks: “Open to me, my sister, my beloved, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is filled with dew, my locks with drops of the night.” I have removed my garment; how can I put it on? I have washed my feet; how can I soil them? My beloved extended his hand through the opening, and my insides stirred for him. I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh upon the handles of the lock. I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and gone. My soul went out when he spoke; I sought him but did not find him, I called him but he did not answer me. The watchmen who patrol the city found me; they struck me and wounded me, they removed my cloak from me—the watchmen of the walls. I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem: if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? That I am lovesick. What is your beloved more than another beloved, you fairest among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you have adjured us so? My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. His head is finest gold; his locks are curled, black as a raven. His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, washed in milk, set in their places. His cheeks are like beds of spices, towers of perfumes; his lips are lilies dripping with flowing myrrh. His hands are rods of gold set with beryl; his body is ivory covered with sapphires. His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of fine gold; his appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars. His mouth is sweetness itself, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.

6. Where has your beloved gone, fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you? My beloved went down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture in the gardens and gather lilies. I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine, who pastures among the lilies. You are beautiful, my beloved, like Tirzah; lovely like Jerusalem; awesome as an army with banners. Turn your eyes away from me, for they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down from Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that have come up from washing; all of them are matched, and none is bereaved among them. Your temple is like a slice of pomegranate behind your veil. There are sixty queens, eighty concubines, and maidens without number. One is my dove, my perfect one; she is the only one of her mother, pure to her who bore her. The maidens saw her and called her happy; queens and concubines praised her. Who is this that appears like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, radiant as the sun, awesome as an army with banners? I went down to the garden of nuts to see the blossoms of the valley, to see whether the vine had blossomed and the pomegranates had budded. I did not know it; my soul set me among the chariots of my noble people.

7. Return, return, O Shulammite; return, return, that we may gaze upon you. What will you see in the Shulammite? Like the dance of the camps. How beautiful are your steps in sandals, daughter of a nobleman. The curves of your thighs are like jewels, the work of an artist’s hands. Your navel is a round basin; may the mixed wine never be lacking. Your belly is a heap of wheat enclosed with lilies. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. Your neck is like an ivory tower; your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon, facing Damascus. Your head upon you is like Carmel, and the hair of your head like purple; a king is captured in its locks. How beautiful and how pleasant you are, love, with delights. This stature of yours is like a palm tree, and your breasts like clusters. I said, “I will climb the palm tree; I will grasp its branches.” May your breasts be like clusters of the vine, and the fragrance of your nose like apples. And your palate like the finest wine, flowing smoothly to my beloved, making the lips of the sleeping speak. I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go out to the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us rise early for the vineyards; let us see whether the vine has blossomed, whether the blossoms have opened and the pomegranates have budded. There I will give you my love. The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and at our doors are all choice fruits, new and old; my beloved, I have stored them up for you.

8. If only you were like a brother to me, nursing at my mother’s breasts! I would find you outside and kiss you, and no one would scorn me. I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house; you would teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem: why awaken or stir up love until it pleases? Who is this rising from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; there your mother conceived you, there she who bore you conceived. Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is harsh as the grave; its flashes are flashes of fire, a divine flame. Many waters cannot extinguish love, nor can rivers wash it away. If a man gave all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build upon her a silver tower; if she is a door, we will enclose her with a cedar board. I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace. Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-Hamon; he gave the vineyard to keepers. Each one would bring a thousand silver pieces for its fruit. My vineyard is before me; the thousand is yours, Solomon, and two hundred for those who guard its fruit. You who dwell in the gardens, companions listen to your voice; let me hear it. Hurry, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a fawn upon the mountains of spices.

After reading Song of Songs, recite:

“Ribon kol ha-Olamim, yehi ratzon milfanecha Ad-nai Elohai ve-Elohei avotai, shebizchut Shir HaShirim asher kariti velamadti, shehu Kodesh Kodashim, bizchut pesukav, uvizchut tevotav, uvizchut otiyotav, uvizchut nekudotav, uvizchut te’amav, uvizchut shemotav vetzerufav urmazav vesodotav hakdoshim vehatehorim hanoraim hayotzim mimenu. Shetehei sha’ah zo sha’at rachamim, sha’at hakshavah, sha’at ha’azanah, venikra’acha veta’anenu; na’atik lecha vehe’ater lanu. Sheyiheh oleh lefanecha kri’at velimud Shir HaShirim ke’ilu hisagnu kol hasodot hanifla’ot vehanora’ot asher hem chatumim bo vechol tena’av. Venizkeh lemakom sheharuchot vehaneshamot nechatzavot misham, uche’ilu asinu kol mah shemutal aleinu lehasi’g bein begilgul zeh bein begilgul acher, velihyot min ha’olim vehazochim la’olam haba im she’ar tzadikim vachasidim. Umaleh kol mish’alot libenu letovah. Vetihyeh im levavenu ve’imrei finu be’et machshevoteinu, ve’im yadeinu be’et ma’avadenu. Vetishlach berachah vehatzlachah bechol ma’aseh yadeinu. Ume’afar tekimenu, ume’ashpot dalutenu teromemenu. Vetashiv Shechinatecha le’ir kodshecha bimheirah veyameinu, amen, selah, amen”.