Mareh Khohein

Emet ma nehedar haya cohen gadol betzeito mibeit kodshei hakodashim b'shalom b'li pegah

K'ohel hanimtach bedarei mala
Mar'ei Kohen
Kivrakim hayotzim miziv hachayot
Mar'ei Kohen
K'godel gdilim barba k'tzavot
Mar'ei Kohen
Kidmut hakeshet betoch he'anan
Mar'ei Kohen

K'hod asher hilbish tzur litzurim
Mar'ei Kohen
K'vered hanatun betoch ginat chemed
Mar'ei Kohen
Kezer hanatun al metzach melech
Mar'ei Kohen
Kchesed hanitan al p'nei chatan
Mar'ei Kohen

K'tohar hanatun bitznif tahor
Mar'ei Kohen
Keyoshev beseter l'chalot pnei melech
Mar'ei Kohen
K'kochav hanoga bigvul mizrach
Mar'ei Kohen
Kilvush me'il uch'shiryon tzedakah
Mar'ei Kohen

K'malach hanitzav al rosh derech
Mar'ei Kohen
Kener hametzitz mibein hachalonot
Mar'ei Kohen

Verily, how glorious was the appearance of the high priest, when he came forth safe from the holy sanctuary, without any evil occurrence.

Even as the expanded canopy of heaven, was the countenance of the priest.

As the lightning that proceedeth from the splendour of the Chajoth (angels) was the countenance of the priest.

As the beautiful blue thread in the fringes of the four corners of the garments, was the countenance of the priest.

As the appearance of the bow, in the midst of the cloud, was the countenance of the priest.

As the majesty with which the Creator attired the patriarchs, was the countenance of the priest.

As the rose in the midst of a delightful garden, was the countenance of the
priest.

As the diadem put on the forehead of a king, was the countenance of the priest.

As the amiable tenderness depicted on the face of the bridegroom, was the countenance of the priest.

As the beauty of the pure mitre ["mitre" means turban], was the countenance of the priest.

As he who sat in concealment, to supplicate the presence of the Supreme King, was the countenance of the priest.

As a bright star, in the border of the east, was the countenance of the priest.

As the beautiful mantle, and the breast-plate of righteousness, was the coun
tenance of the priest.

As the angel that stood at the head of the way, was the countenance of the priest.

As the light that gleameth in the windows, was the countenance of the priest.

Translation from Form of Prayers for the Day of Atonement published by the Hebrew Publishing Company, 1901 (public domain).

A poem the Yom Kippur Musaf Amidah (Avodah) service.

The recording below is from the Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel's Tisch CD - for more information check out www.nativ.org.

The recording from the Tisch CD was provided to the Zemirot Database by the creators of the CD, with permission to host the provided tracks on the Database.