This poem was written by Rabbi Solomon Halevy Alkabetz, whose name שְׁלֹמֹה הַלֵוִי is spelled out by the first letter of each stanza. In this poem, the bridegroom (Israel) calls to his Beloved Friend (God) asking that He join him in welcoming his bride (the Sabbath). The concept of welcoming the Sabbath goes back to Talmudic times. Rabbi Chanina robed himself and stood at sunset on the eve of the Sabbath and exclaimed, “Come! Let us go forth to welcome the Sabbath Queen.” Rabbi Yanai garbed himself in festive attire on Sabbath eve and exclaimed; “Come bride, Come bride” (Shabbos119a). Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

“Preserve” and “Remember”⁴⁴ in a single utterance the One Almighty caused us to hear; Adonoy is One, and His Name is One; for fame, for glory, and for praise.⁴⁵

footnotes: ⁴⁴ “Preserve” and “Remember” refers to the discrepancy between the two texts of the fourth commandment. Exodus (20:8) reads, “Remember the Sabbath day,” while Deuteronomy (5:12) reads, “Preserve the Sabbath day.” The Talmud (Shavuos 20b) explains that both words, שָׁמוֹר and זָכוֹר were miraculously pronounced by God simultaneously. ⁴⁵ These words revert back to the first lines of this stanza: “The One Almighty God caused us to hear for our fame, for our glory, and for our praise.” This thought is based on the verse in Deuteronomy 26:18,19, “Keep the commandments, and He will make you high above all nations—in praise, in name, and in glory.”—Iyun Tefilah

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

To greet the Sabbath, come let us go for it is the source of blessing; from the very beginning, of old, it was appointed; last in creation, first in [God's] thought.⁴⁶

footnotes: ⁴⁶ This sentence is based on the Midrashic illustration of the architect who prepares the plans for the entire structure before beginning the construction. Analogously, the Sabbath is the end-purpose of God’s creation, for which everything else was made.

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

Sanctuary of the King, royal city, arise, come forth from the upheaval; too long have you dwelt in the valley of weeping; He will show you abundant pity.

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

Shake the dust off yourself, arise, dress up in your garments of glory, my people; through the son of Yishai the Bethlehemite,⁴⁷ draw near to my soul and redeem it.

footnotes: ⁴⁷ The Messiah is a descendant of David, the son of Yishai of Bethlehem.

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

Wake up! wake up! for your light has come, arise and shine. Awaken! awaken! utter a song, The glory of Adonoy is revealed upon you.

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

Feel not ashamed or humiliated why are you bowed down, why do you moan? In you will take refuge the poor of my people;⁴⁸ and the city will be rebuilt on its ancient site.

footnotes: ⁴⁸ Others translate “The afflicted of my people will take refuge in you.”

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

They will be ravaged, those who ravaged you, and they will be cast far off, all who devour you. Your God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

Right and left you will spread out. and Adonoy, you will praise;⁴⁹ through the man descended from Peretz⁵⁰ we will rejoice and exult.

footnotes: ⁴⁹ This translation follows Iyun Tefilah. Others translate, “will you revere.” ⁵⁰ Peretz was the son of Judah from whom David was descended.

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.

Come in peace, crown of her husband,⁵¹ come rejoicing and with good cheer; amidst the faithful of the treasured people. Come Bride, come Bride, come Bride, Shabbos Queen!

footnotes: ⁵¹ The husband is Israel; and the Sabbath is Israel’s crowning glory.

Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.