Achat sha'alti me'eit Hashem, otah avakesh:
shivti b'veit Hashem, kol y'mei chayai, lachazot b'noam Hashem, u'l'vaker b'heikhalo.

One thing I ask from the Lord, one thing I desire
That I might dwell in Your house all the days of my life
To behold the graciousness of the Lord, and to enter God's sanctuary.

User-contributed translation

From Psalms 27:4, the Psalm for the days of awe.
B'kol Echad page 77

Tzlil v'Zemer tune used with permission. (Featured below in the recordings by Shmuel Popper and Yisroel Mendelson)

Ata Vechartanu Mikol Haamim Ahavta Otanu Veratzita Vanu Veromamtanu Micol Haleshonot (2x)

Vekidashtanu B'mitzvotecha V'keravtanu Malkeinu LaAvodatecha Veshimcha Hagadol Vehakadosh Aleinu Kauroso.

You have chosen us from all peoples; you have loved us and taken pleasure in us, and have exalted us above all tongues; you have sanctified us by your commandments, and brought us near unto your service, O our King, and have called us by your great and holy name.

Translation based on The Standard Prayer book by Simeon Singer (1915) (public domain)

This song is usually sung in shalosh regalim - Pesach, Shavuot and Sucot. And it is surely appropiate for all holidays in general and times of Simcha...

B'tzeit yisrael mimitzrayim,
beit Ya'akov meam loez.
Haytah yehudah lekodsho
Yisrael mamshelotav.

Hayam ra'ah vayanos,
hayarden yisov leachor.
Heharim rakedu cheilim,
gevaot kivnei tzon.

Mah lecha hayam ki tanus,
hayarden tisov leachor.
Heharim tirkedu cheilim,
gevaot kivnei tzon.

Milifnei adon chuli aretz,
Mlifnei eloah ya'akov.
Hahofechi hatzur agam mayim,
Chalamish lemayeno mayim.

When Israel came forth out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
Judah became His sanctuary, Israel His dominion.
The sea saw it, and fled; the Jordan turned backward.
The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like young sheep.
What is has come upon you, the sea, that you flee? The Jordan, that you turn backward?
The mountains, that you skip like rams; the hills, like young sheep?
Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Master, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
Who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

Translation based on Jewish Publication Society Bible (1917) (public domain)

Psalm 114
Sung during Hallel and at the seder

Eli atah v'odeka, elohai aromemeka. Hodu l'adonai (lashem) ki tov, ki l'olam chasdo.

You are my God, and I will thank you, my Lord and I will praise you. Give thanks to God for He is good, his kindness is everlasting.

Translation by Gabe Seed

From Hallel, Psalm 118

Horachamon Hu yokim lanu et sukkat David hanofelet.

May the All-merciful raise up for us the fallen Tabernacle of David.

Translation from The Standard Prayer book by Simeon Singer (1915) (public domain)

Hodu ladonai ki tov,
ki l'olam chasdo. Yomar-na Yisrael, ki l'olam chasdo.
Yomru-na beit aharon, ki l'olam chasdo. Yomru-na yirei adonai, ki l'olam chasdo.

O Give Thanks unto the Lord for God is good,
For God's mercy endures forever.
Let Israel say now:
God's lovingkindness endures forever.
Let now the house of Aaron say:
God's lovingkindness endures forever.
Let them that revere the Lord say:
God's lovingkindness endures forever.
(B'kol Echad, page 86)

Psalm 118:1-4

Hoshia et amecha,
uvarech et nachlatecha,
ur'em v'nas'em ad haolam.

Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance;
and tend them, and carry them for ever.

Psalms 28:9

Translation source: Jewish Publication Society Bible (1917) (public domain)

Taken from p'sukei d'zimra and the Hoshanot service. From Psalms 28.

Tune composed by Rabbi Avraham Twerski Zt"l

Kadesheinu bemitzvotecha, ve'tein chelkeinu betoratecha. Sabe'einu mituvecha vesamechainu bishuatecha. Vetaher libeinu leavdecha be'emet.

Vehanchileinu Adonai Eloheinu

Shabbat: Be'ahava uvratzon
Holidays: Be'simcha uvsason
Shabbat: Shabbat (u)
Holidays: Mo'adei kodshecha.

Ve'yishmechu vecha Yisrael me'kadeshei shemecha.

Baruch atah Adonai, mekadesh

Shabbat: Hashabbat (ve)
Holidays: Yisrael ve'hazemanim.

Lev tahor b'ra li Elohim, vruach nachon chadesh b'kirbi-Al tashlicheni mi'lfanecha, v'ruach kodshecha al tikach mimeni.

Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me.

Translation source: Jewish Publication Society Bible (1917) (public domain)

Psalms 51:12-13
On YouTube (Dani Golan and Friends):
Object removed for printing.

Ma ashiv l'Hashem, kol tagmelohi alai.
Kos yeshuot esa, u'veshem Hashem ekra
Nedarai l'Hashem ashaleim, negda na l'chol amo
Yakar b'einei Hashem, hamavta l'chasidav
Ana Hashem ki ani avdecha, ani avdecha ben amatecha, pitacha l'moseirai
Nedarai l'Hashem ashaleim, negda na l'chol amo
B'chatzrot beit Hashem, betocheichi Yerushalayim
Halleluyah

How can I repay unto the LORD all His bountiful dealings toward me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows will I pay unto the LORD, yea, in the presence of all His people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.
I beseech Thee, O LORD, for I am Thy servant; {N}
I am Thy servant, the son of Thy handmaid; Thou hast loosed my bands.
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows unto the LORD, yea, in the presence of all His people;
In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah.

Jewish Publication Society 1917 Translation (in the public domain)

Shlomo Carlebach version is below, sung by Shlomo Carlebach on the official Carlebach YouTube channel (click video to go to channel).

Mah tovu ohaleicha ya'akov mishkenoteicha yisrael.

Va'ani berov chasdecha avo beitecha, eshtachaveh el heichal kodesheca beyiratecha.

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwelling places, O Israel! As for me, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness will I come into thy house: I will worship toward thy holy temple in the fear of thee.

Translation from The Standard Prayer book by Simeon Singer (1915) (public domain)

Numbers 24.

Video version below Shalsheles Junior

He who elevates me and sanctifies me, bequeathed me my six Festivals.
On the seventh day (Shabbat), He who loves me gifted me a day of supernal delight.

My Deliverer proclaimed freedom [unto] those who called out from the depths;
He supported me upon His wings, and carried me aloft unto the skies.
The four [sons] ask, "What are these testimonies and statutes?" [And You reply,]
"Shout out in joyous song to the Rock of your salvation who split the mighty waters!"

He who elevates me and sanctifies me …

"The Torah He gifted [to us] from amid the barrenness.
The mountains did dance when He bequeathed it as the blueprint [for our lives]."
We answered together, “His Testimony (the Torah) is true!
Goodly teachings were spoken to us from His rose-like lips."

He who elevates me and sanctifies me …

His impression lasts for all generations, and praiseworthy are those who remember Him.
His feelings are stirred from within as He recalls how we [lovingly] followed after His ways.
The King is beseeched when the shevarim are blown [on the shofar].
He sits enthroned with His books open before Him.

He who elevates me and sanctifies me …

His ways are of pleasantness, for He is greatly merciful.
Forgiveness is readily granted to us by the Tender of vineyards.
The whitely-garbed one comes to beseech [in Your Sanctuary] with sweetness.
Our misdeeds are pardoned by the Fashioner of the universe.

He who elevates me and sanctifies me …

Songs of praise and thanksgiving are sung as the four are bound together as one.
This is "The Time of Our Rejoicing" when every last tear is wiped away.
Ensconced is our magnificent sukkah by a curtain of [white] purity;
Adorned with gold and silver for all seven [days].

He who elevates me and sanctifies me …

The days of the Festive rejoicing conclude, yet we remain [together] another day.
His table He sets for His precious children,
for pained is He by the departure of His pure ones.
He hosts with tender kindnesses and loving words.

He who elevates me and sanctifies me …

(User-contributed translation)

CHORUS:

Line 1 refers to the six festivals (ששת חגי) which are explicated across the six stanzas of the piyyut. הקב"ה is referred to here as מרוממי ומקדשי, based upon the nusach of the festival kiddush: ורוממנו מכל לשון וקדשנו במצוותיו.

Line 2 refers to the Shabbat. הקב"ה is called אוהבי here (‘He who loves me’), recalling the addition of the extra term 'באהבה' in the festival Kiddush when the festival coincides with a Shabbat. הזבידי means 'he gave to me as a present' (The word זֶבֶד [= gift] appears in Gen. 30:20, and the paytanim extended the word with the causative verb להזביד). תענוגי recalls the עונג component of Shabbos (cf. Is. 58:13-14: וקראת לשבת עֹנג... אז תתענג על ה').

[Grammatical note: In Biblical Hebrew, the words הנחילי ('he endowed me') and הזבידי ('he gave to me as a gift') would be conjugated with a 'נ' as part of the suffix: הנחילני and הזבידני. However, according to the paytanic tradition (represented first and foremost by the piyyutim of Elazar b'rabi Kallir), the 'נ' is an optional component, and may be omitted.]

STANZA 1: PESACH

Line 1 / מוציאי: Hashem, who took us out of Egypt (cf. Ex. 6:7: כי אני ה' אלקיכם המוציא אתכם מתחת סבלות מצרים). קרא דרור: granted freedom (the phrase appears in a number of places in Tanach, such as regarding the Yovel in Lev. 25:10). קוראי מעמקים: Those who cry out to Hashem from the depths. The phrase is based on Ps. 130:1 (ממעמקים קראתיך ה') and the reference is to Am Yisrael crying to Hashem in Egypt (cf. Ex. 2:23: ויזעקו ותעל שועתם אל האלקים מן העבֹדה).

Line 2 / as a whole refers to Ex. 19:4 (ואשא אתכם על כנפי נשרים). אמצני: He strengthened me and supported me. נשאני בשחקים: He carried me through the skies. (For the use of the word שחקים as 'skies' see for instance Deut. 33:26).

Line 3 / ארבעה: The four sons, as per the haggada. מה העדֹת והחֻקים: as per Deut. 6:20: כי ישאלך בנך מחר לאמר מה העדֹת והחֻקים.

Line 4 / רננו לצור ישעיכם: Praise God, your Savior. The phraseology is based on Ps. 95:1: לכו נרננה לה' נריעה לצור ישענו. החוצה מי אפיקים: Who divides the mighty waters (the term 'אפיקים' generally refers to lakes and rivers [see for instance Is. 8:7]; however, it can also be used in the sense of 'mighty' and 'strong' [see Job 12:21].)

STANZA 2: SHAVUOT

Line 1 / וזאת התורה: cf. Deut. 4:44: וזאת התורה אשר שם משה לפני בני ישראל. ממדבר מתנה: The phrase is from Num. 21:18, which is explained in the Midrash (אותיות דרבי עקיבא, ד"ה דבר אחר סמ"ך) as referring to the giving of the Torah on Sinai: וממדבר מתנה זה מדבר סיני שנתנה להם לוחות במתנה מסיני.

Line 2 / למה תרצדון: cf. Ps. 68:17: למה תרצדון הרים גבנֻנים, which is explained by the midrash to refer to the clamoring of the mountains who each wished to be the one on which the Torah would be given. See Genesis Rabba section 100: למה תרצדון הרבים גבנונים... בשעה שבא הקב"ה ליתן תורה בסיני היו ההרים רצים ומדיינים אלו עם אלו, זה אומר עלי התורה ניתנה, וזה אומר עלי תורה ניתנה. בהנחילו אמנה: As Hashem bestowed us with the Torah. אמנה is a term used by the paytanim to refer to the Torah, based upon Mishlei 8:30: ואהיה אצלו אמון, and the Midrash in Genesis Rabba section 1 which interprets that verse as referring to the Torah.

Line 3 / וענינו כולנו: we all answered (at Har Sinai). עדותו נאמנה: The Torah is true (cf. Ps. 19:18: תורת ה' תמימה... עדות ה' נאמנה).

Line 4 / לקח טוב: cf. Mishlei 4:2: כי לקח טוב נתתי לכם תורתי אל תעזֹבו. משפתי שושנה: Hashem, based on the description of the דוד in Shir Hashirim 5:13: שפתותיו שושנים.

STANZA 3: ROSH HASHANA

Line 1 / דור ודור זכרו: Hashem (cf. Ex. 3:15: זה זכרי לדֹר דֹר). ואשרי כל זוכריו: And fortunate are those who remember You. The idea is based upon the Rosh Hashana liturgy: אשרי איש שלא ישכחך.

Line 2 / המו מעיו בזכרו לכתנו אחריו: His insides turn as he remembers how we followed Him in the desert. This is based upon two verses from Jeremiah, both included within the זכרונות verses in the litrugy. Jer. 31:19: הבן יקיר לי אפרים... זכֹר אזכרנו עוד על כן המו מעי לו; and Jer. 2:2: זכרתי לך חסד נעוריך... לכתך אחרי במדבר.

Line 3 / פני מלך לחלות בתקוע שבריו: Supplicating before the King, as we blow His 'שברים' (that is, as we blow on the shofar as He commanded us).

Line 4 / רם ישב בכסאו: He sits majestically on His chair (cf. Is. 6:1, which his highlighted in the Rosh Hashana liturgy: יושב על כסא רם ונשא). בפתֹח ספריו: as the books of זכרונות are opened before Him.

STANZA 4: YOM KIPPUR

Line 1 / נעם דרכיו: God's pleasant ways (cf. Mishlei 3:17: דרכיה דרכי נעם). גֹדל רחמים: God's great and bountiful mercy.

Line 2 / קרובה מחילתנו: our forgiveness will soon be granted. מנוטר כרמים: Hashem, whose relationship to Israel is likened to that of a keeper to his vineyard, in the piyyut which we sing on Yom Kippur: כי אנו עמך ואתה אלקינו... אנו כרמיך ואתה נוטרנו.

Line 3 refers to the Kohen Gadol, who wears בגדי לבן on Yom Kippur, as he goes into the קדש הקדשים to plead for his nation. (בנעימים references the היכל and the קדש הקדשים based upon Ps. 27:4: לחזות בנֹעם ה' ולבקר בהיכלו).

Line 4 / צור עולמים is Hashem (cf. Is. 26:4: כי בי ה ה' צור עולמים).

STANZA 5: SUKKOT

Line 1 / זמרה וקול תודה: for the phraseology, cf. Is. 51:3: תודה וקול זמרה. The reference here is to the special joy of Sukkot, about which it is written: ושמחת בחגך (Deut. 16:14). באגוד ארבעה: as we join together the 4 minim. The term אגוד references the halacha that the 4 minim must be wrapped together (see Talmud Bavli Sukkah 11b: לולב צריך אגד)

Line 2 / בזמן שמחתנו: Sukkot, as it is referenced in the liturgy. תִמחה כל דמעה: an expression of eternal Joy based upon Is. 25:8: ומחה ה' א לקים דמעה מעל כל פנים.

Line 3 / אדר סוכתנו בטֹהר יריעה: The magnificence of our Sukkot, with their clean and beautiful curtains/walls (regarding the importance of beautifying the Sukkah, see Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 133b: התנאה לפניו במצות, עשה לפניו סוכה נאה).

Line 4 refers to the decoration of the Sukkah.

STANZA 6: SHMINI ATZERET

Line 1 / תמו ימי החג: the days of Sukkot are over. ועוד יום נעצרים: yet the people of Israel stay one more day. The term נעצרים is an epithet for those who stay for the עצרת.

Line 2 is based on the description of the essence of Shmini Atzeret as described in Talmud Bavli Sukkot 55b, in which this chag is likened to a King who sets up a special meal at the end of his celebration just for his loved ones: משל למלך בשר ודם שאמר לעבדיו עשו לי סעודה גדולה, ליום אחרון אמר לאוהבו עשו לי סעודה קטנה כדי שאהנה ממך. The phrase שלחנו יערֹך recalls Ps. 23:5 (תערֹך לפני שלחן), and the word שלחן together with the term שתיליו recalls the image of the children sitting around the father's table, as described in Ps. 128:3: בניך כשתִלי זיתים סביב לשלחנך.

Line 3 references the language used by Rashi (on Lev. 23:36) to paraphrase the aforementioned Gemara: כמלך שזימן את בניו לסעודה לכך וכך ימים, כיון שהגיע זמנן להפטר אמר בני בבקשה מכם עכבו עמי עוד יום אחד, קשה עלי פרידתכם.

Line 4 / בטוב דודיו יארחם: He shall host them with his kind love. באֹהב דברים: with loving words.

Mi cha-mo-cha ba'ei-lim Adonai?
Mi ka-mo-cha ne'dar ba-ko-desh?
No-ra t'hi-lot o-seh fe-leh.

Who is like You, dressed with holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders!

Odecha ki anitani, va'tehi li liyeshua

Even ma'asu habonim, haytah lerosh pinah

Me'et adonai hay'ta zot, hi nifla'at be'eineinu

Zeh hayom asah adonai, nagila ve'nismecha bo

I will give thanks unto Thee, for Thou hast answered me, and art become my salvation.

The stone which the builders rejected is become the chief corner-stone.

This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Jewish Publication Society Translation (in public domain)

Psalm 118:21-24

This song is found in Hallel.

Thoughts of Zemirot Database contributor: My own personal thoughts are "the stone" the builders despised can also refer to Torah (the numerical positions of each of the letters letters in the words EVEN "stone" and TORAH in the aleph beis both add to 53). In addition, Yom in Hebrew can mean "day" and it can also mean "time period". Everyone goes through different periods of life, ups and downs and since it is all for the ultimate good and since it all comes from Hashem, we should rejoice and be happy.

The video below is from The Day to Praise

Pitchu li sha'arei tzedek
Avo vam odeh Yah.
Zeh hasha'ar la'adonai tzadikim yavo'u vo.
Odicha ki anitani vatehi li l'yeshua.
Even ma'asu habonim hayta l'rosh pina.

Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto the LORD.

Translation from Jewish Publication Society 1917 Bible, in the public domain.

Psalm 118:19.

Found in B'kol Echad, pg 93

Video below is Tzlil V'zemer Boys Choir





Shlomo Carlebach version is below, sung by Shlomo Carlebach on the official Carlebach YouTube channel (click video to go to channel).

Shuvi nafshi lim’nuchaychi
Ki HaShem gamal alaichi

Ki chilatz’ta nafshi mimavet et eini min dim’a
Et ragli ragli midechi

Return, O my soul, to your resting place; The Lord hath dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.

Psalm 116:7-8

Based on 1917 JPS translation (open source)

Va’ani T'filati L'cha Adonai Et Ratzon
Elohim B’rov Chasdecha Aneini Be'emet Yishecha

As for me, may my prayer come to You, O Lord, at a favorable moment. O God, in Your abundant faithfulness, answer me with Your sure deliverance.

Source: Jewish Publication Society 1917 Translation (public domain)

Psalms 69:14
A popular version was released by Shalsheles in 2007

V’kareiv p’zureinu mibein hagoyim oon'footzoteinu kaneis mi-yark’tei aretz.

Bring our scattered ones among the nations near unto thee, and gather our dispersed from the ends of the earth.

Translation from The Standard Prayer book by Simeon Singer (1915) (public domain)

From the liturgy

More tunes from Stanley Estrin can be found on You Tube at High Holidays Shaliach Tzibbur.

Ve'harenu B'vinyano
Ve'samchenu be'tikuno

And show us its rebuilding and gladden us in its perfection.
(User-contributed translation)

This song comes from an excerpt from the Mussaf davening for the Yom Tovim.

V'samachta b'chagecha v'hayita ach same'ach.

You shall rejoice on your festivals, and should be fully happy.

Translation by Gabe Seed

Deuteronomy 16:14a,15b

Avinu malkenu, gale kevodo malchutcha aleinu mehera, vetivnehu mehera utgadel kevodo

Our Father, our King, reveal the glory of your reign over us quickly, build it quickly, and increase its glory

מוסף לשלוש רגלים
Part of the festival's mussaf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n_xo9bXmk8

Yah Eili v'go'ali
Etyatzvah likratecha
Hayah v'yihyeh
Hayah v'hoveh
Kol goy admatecha

Vetodah velaolah velamincha velachatat
vela'asham velashelamim
velamiluim, kol korbanecha.
Z'chor nilah
Asher nasah
Vehashivah leadmatecha
Selah ahaleleka
Beashrei yoshvei veitecha.

Dak al dak
ad ein nivdak
velitevunato ein cheker
Hael norah
B'achat skira
Bein tov lara y'vaker.

Adon tzvaot
B'rov pelaot
Chiber kol oholo
Bintivot lev livlev
Hatzur tamim poalo

Shalosh regalim before mussaf

Yigdal Elohim chai ve’yishtabach,
nimtza v’ein et el metsiuto.

Echad V’ein yachid keyichudo,
ne’elam v’gam ein sof l’achduto.

Ein lo d’mut haguf v’eino guf, lo na’aroch eilav kedushato.

Kadmon l’chol davar asher nivra,
rishon v’ein reishit l’reishito.

Hino adon olam l’chol notsar,
yoreh g’dulato umalchuto.

Shefa n’vuato netano, el anshei s’gulato v’tif’arto.

Lo kam b’Yisrael k’Moshe od navi umabeet et temunato.

Torat emet natan le'amo el, al yad neveeo ne'eman beito.

Lo yachalif ha'el ve'lo yamir dato, le'olamim, lezulato.

Tsofeh v’yodea setareinu, mabeet l’sof davar B'kadmato.

Gomel l’ish chesed k’mif’alo, noten l’rasha ra kerish’ato.

Yishlach l’ketz yamin meshicheinu,
lifdot m’chakei ketz yeshuato.

Metim y’chayeh El b’rov chasdo,
baruch adei ad shem t’hilato.

[Eleh sh'losh esreh l'ikarim, hem hen y'sod dat El v'emunato. Torat Moshe emet unvuato, baruch adei ad shem t'hilato.]

1. Magnified and praised be the living God: he is, and there is no limit in time unto his being.

2. He is One, and there is no unity like unto his unity; inconceivable is he, and unending is his unity.

3. He hath neither bodily form nor substance: we can compare nought unto him in his holiness.

4. He was before anything that hath been created--even the first: but his existence had no beginning.

5. Behold he is the Lord of the universe: to every creature he teacheth his greatness and his sovereignty.

6. The rich gift of his prophecy he gave unto the men of his choice, in whom he gloried.

7. There hath never yet arisen in Israel a prophet like unto Moses, one who hath beheld his similitude,

8. The Law of truth God gave unto his people by the hand of his prophet who was faithful in his house.

9. God will not alter nor change his Law to everlasting for any other.

10. He watcheth and knoweth our secret thoughts: he beholdeth the end of a thing before it existeth.

11. He bestoweth lovingkindness upon a man according to his work; he giveth to the wicked evil according to his wickedness.

12. He will send our anointed at the end of days, to redeem them that wait for the end—his salvation.

13. In the abundance of his lovingkindness God will quicken the dead. Blessed for evermore be his glorious name.

Translation from The Standard Prayer book by Simeon Singer (1915) (public domain)

[These are the thirteen fundamentals (of Jewish faith), they are the foundation of the religion of God and His faithful. The Torah of Moses and his prophesy is true, blessed for eternity be His name.]
User-contributed translation

Although it is found in the beginning of the shacharit service in the siddur, Yigdal is often sung at the conclusion of the Ma'ariv service on Shabbat and Chagim. The lines in brackets are added in Sefardi communities.

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