Tzur Mishelo

Tzur Mishelo Achalnu, Bar'chu Emunai, Sava'anu vehotarnu kidvar Adonai.

Hazan et olamo roeinu avinu,
achalnu et lachmo vyeino shatinu,
al kein nodeh lishmo unhal'lo b'finu
amarnu v'aninu ein kadosh kadonai.

Tzur...

B'shir v'kol todah n'varech leloheinu,
al eretz chemdah tovah shehinchil lavoteinu. Mazon v'tzeidah hisbia l'nafsheinu,
chasdo gavar aleinu v'emet Adonai.

Tzur...

Rachem b'chasdecha Al am'cha Tsureinu,
al Tsion mishkan k'vodecha z'vul beit tifarteinu.
Ben David avdecha yavo v'yig'aleinu,
ruach apeinu m'shiach Adonai.

Tzur...

Yibaneh hamikdash ir tsion timaleh,
visham nashir shir chadash uvirnanah na'aleh.
harachaman hanikdash yibarach v'yitaleh
al kos yayin maleh k'birkat Adonai.

Tzur...

Come, friends, in grateful strains
Give thanks and bless ye our Lord!
Rock, Whose store our life sustains!
Whose sure bounty still remains
According to His word.

Thy bounty mankind feeds,
Thy flock, O Pastor, guiding;
Thine the bread that we have eaten,
Thy rich grace our drink did sweeten,
All our wants providing,
For all our daily needs,
Father, e'er abiding,
Let us praise thy name again,
Let us sing with loud refrain
"None holy like our King."

To God our voice we raise
In songs of jubilation,
For the land of His bestowing,
Land with milk and honey flowing,
He gave our ancient nation.
His food our hunger stays;
His grace our soul's salvation.
Strong above us mortals frail
God's sure mercies shall prevail
His truth shall watch our ways.

Have mercy on Thy flock,
On Zion desolated;
Zion, once Thy glory's throne,
There Thy presence dwelt alone,
Our splendour, now abated.
O Thou eternal Rock,
For Thee our hearts have waited;
Our life's breath, Messiah, speed,
Wandering exiles home to lead,
Born of David's stock.

Our hearts, now mute, shall sing
New songs, before unspoken,
When we see with marvelling eyes
Salem's throngs once more arise
To build her ramparts broken.
Loud let your voices ring!
In pledge and grateful token
Raise your cups, His grace confessing!
Raise your cups, accept His blessing,
Israel's God and King.

Translation by Herbert Loewe, Mediaeval Hebrew Minstrelsy, Songs for the Bride Queen's Feast, published 1926.

Traditional Shabbat Zemer often sung on Friday night, usually before bensching.

The surviving son and the two granddaughters of Herbert Loewe have been glad to give their permission to reproduce his English version of this song. See this page for more information on the copyright status of Mediaeval Hebrew Minstrelsy.

Click here to read about Herbert Loewe. The linked page is written by Herbert Loewe's son Michael Loewe.