Ki Eshm'ra Shabbat
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Ki Eshm'ra Shabbat is a popular Sabbath hymn, composed in the 12th century by Abraham ibn Ezra. Though historically a song for Sabbath eve, today it is usually sung at Sabbath lunch.[1]
The hymn discusses which acts are appropriate, and which inappropriate, for the Sabbath. It contains five stanzas, the first letters of which spell the author's first name "Abraham" by acrostic. The refrain is "Because I will keep the Sabbath, God will protect me; it is an eternal sign between Him and me".
Text
| Hebrew Original[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] | English translation |
|---|---|
אסור מצוא חפץ לעשות דרכים |
Forbidden is business, to journey,[a]
On it[b] also to speak on it of government, Words of sale or necessities.[c] I will sigh over God's law, and be made wise. Because I will keep the Sabbath, God will protect me; it is an eternal sign between Him and me. |
בו אמצא(ה) תמיד נוח לנפשי |
On it[d] I will always find rest[e] for my body.
Behold to the first generation I gave my holy. Signaled by Friday's doubled manna, So on every Friday my meal will be doubled. Because I will keep the Sabbath . . . |
רשם בדת היום חוק אל סגניו |
Set into the day's code, a law for His ministers:
On it to set showbread before Him.[f] So on it to fast, so His sages say,[g] Is forbidden except on Yom Kippur. Because I will keep the Sabbath . . . |
הוא יום מכובד הוא יום תענוגים |
It is a glorious day, it is a day of delights,
Good food and drink, meat and fish. Those[h] who mourn it are backwards, For it is a day of joys, and he will cheer me! Because I will keep the Sabbath . . . |
מחל מלאכה בו סופו להכרית |
Who desecrates it with work[i] will be erased in the end,
Therefore I bathe for it,[j] my heart like soap. I pray to God Maariv, Shacharit, Mussaf, and Mincha, "For you will answer me".[k] Because I will keep the Sabbath . . . |