Ma Tovu
Ma Tovu (Hebrew for "O How Good" or "How Goodly") is a prayer in Judaism, expressing reverence and awe for synagogues and other places of worship. The prayer begins with , where Balaam, sent to curse the Israelites, is instead overcome with awe at God and the Israelites' houses of worship. Its first line of praise is a quote of Balaam's blessing and is thus the only prayer commonly used in Jewish services that was written by a non-Jew. The remainder of the text is derived from passages in Psalms relating to entering the house of worship  and preparation for further prayer (; ; ; and ). In this vein is the prayer recited by Jews upon entering the synagogue. Hebrew text. מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל. Transliteration. "Ma tovu ohalekha Ya'akov, mishk'notekha Yisra'el." "Va'ani b'rov hasd'kha, avo veytekha," "eshtahaveh el heikhal kodsh'kha b'yir'atekha." "Adonai, ahavti m'on beitekha um'kom mishkan k'vodekha." "Va'ani eshtakhaveh ve'ekhra'ah, avar'kha lifnei Adonai osi." "Va'ani t'filati l'kha Adonai et ratzon, Elohim b'rov hasdekha aneini be'emet yish'ekha." English translation. How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! As for me, through Your abundant grace, I enter your house to worship with awe in Your  sacred place. O Lord, I love the House where you dwell, and the place where your glory tabernacles. I shall prostrate myself and bow; I shall kneel before the Lord my Maker. To You, Eternal One, goes my prayer: may this be a time of your favor. In Your abundant love, O God, answer me with the Truth of Your salvation. Musical settings. In modern times various composers have developed musical settings for Ma Tovu including: