Yedid Nefesh

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, 	
meshoch avdechah el retzonechah,	draw Your servant to Your Will; 	
ya'arutz avdechah kmo ayal, 	then Your servant will hurry like a hart 	
yishtachave el mul hadarecha, 	to bow before Your majesty; 	
ye-erav lo yedidotecha, 	to him Your friendship will be sweeter 	
minofet tzuf v'chol ta-am. 	than the dripping of the honeycomb and any taste. 	
 	 	
 	
Verse 2 	
Hadur na-e ziv ha-ōlom, 	Majestic, Beautiful, Radiance of the universe, 	
nafshi cholat ahavatecha, 	my soul pines [lit: is sick for] for your love. 	
ana el na r'fa na lah, 	Please, O G-d, heal her now 	
b'harot lah noam zivecha, 	by showing her the pleasantness of Your radiance; 	
az teet-chazeik v'titrapei, 	then she will be strengthened and healed, 	
v'hayta lah simchat olam 	and eternal gladness will be hers. 	
 	 	
 	
Verse 3 	
Vatik yehemu na rachamecha, 	Enduring One, may Your mercy be aroused 	
v'chuso na al bein ahuvecha, 	and please take pity on the son of Your beloved, 	
ki ze kama nichsof nichsafti, 	because it is so very long that I have yearned intensely	
lir'ot m'heiro b'tiferet uzecha,	to see speedily to splendour of Your strength; 	
eile chamdah libi, 	only these my heart desired, 	
v'chuso na v'al tit-alom. 	so please take pity and do not conceal Yourself 	
 	 	
 	
Verse 4 	
Higalei na ufros chavivi alai, 	Please, my Beloved, reveal Yourself and spread upon me 	
et sukat shlomecha, 	the shelter of Your peace; 	
ta-ir eretz mich'vodecha, 	illuminate the Earth with Your glory, 	
nagila v'nism'cha bach. 	that we may rejoice and be glad with You; 	
Maheir ehov ki va mo-ed, 	hasten, show love, for the time has come, 	
v'chaneinu kimei olom. 	and show us grace as in days of old. 	
 	 	
==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
Category:Jewish liturgical poems
Category:Shabbat
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