Shabbat Blessings: Psalm 126 - Shir Hamaalot

Shir HaMaalot Audio Blessing
Audio file

On Shabbat, holidays and at certain other festive meals, begin Birkat HaMazon (grace after meals) with "A Pilgrim's Song."

Hebrew Text

שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת, בְּשׁוּב יְהֹוָה אֶת־שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן,
הָיִֽינוּ כְּחֹלְמִֽים. אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּֽינוּ,
וּלְשׁוֹנֵֽנוּ רִנָּה. אָז יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם:
הִגְדִּיל יְהֹוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עִם־אֵֽלֶּה.
הִגְדִּיל יְהֹוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ, הָיִֽינוּ שְׂמֵחִים.
שׁוּבָה יְהֹוָה אֶת־שְׁבִתֵֽנוּ כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּֽגֶב.
הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹֽרוּ.
הָלוֹךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכֹה, נֹשֵׂא מֶֽשֶׁךְ־הַזָּֽרַע,
בֹּֽא־יָבוֹא בְרִנָּה, נֹשֵׂא אֲלֻמֹּתָיו.

Transliteration

Shir hamaalot,
b'shuv Adonai et shivat Tziyon
hayinu k'chol'mim. Az yimalei s'chok pinu,
ul'shoneinu rinah. Az yom'ru vagoyim:
Higdil Adonai laasot im eileh.
Higdil Adonai laasot imanu, hayinu s'meichim
.
Shuvah Adonai et sh'viteinu kaafikim baNegev.
Hazor'im b'dimah b'rinah yiktzoru.
Haloch yeileich uvachoh, nosei meshech hazara,
bo yavo v'rinah, nosei alumotav.

Translation

A song of ascents. When God restored the exiles to Zion it seemed like a dream. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with joyful song. Then they said among the nations: "God has done great things for them." Yes, God is doing great things for us, and we are joyful. Restore our fortunes, O God, as streams revive the desert. Then those who have sown in tears shall reap in joy. Those who go forth weeping, carrying bags of seeds, shall come home with shouts of joy, bearing their sheaves.

Source

From Miskhan T'filah: A Reform Siddur  © 2007 by CCAR Press. 

Copyright © 2007 Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission of the CCAR. All rights reserved. Not to be distributed, sold, or copied without express written permission. Order print copies at ccarpress.org.