V'ahavta
from: habayta (homeward)
V’AHAVTA
Hebrew lyrics from Deuteronomy 6:5–9, and Numbers 15:40-41
Music and expanded translation © 2015 by Billy Jonas (Bang-A-Bucket Music/BMI)
V’ahavta
AND YOU SHALL LOVE
et Adonai Elohecha
ALL THAT WAS, IS, AND WILL BE
b’chol l’vavcha
with all your heart
(YEARNING)
uv’chol nafsh’cha
with all your soul
(SHIMMERING QUINTESSENCE)
uv’chol m’odecha.
with all your might
(TREMBLING SINEW)
V’hayu
AND MAY IT BE
had’varim ha-eileh
ALL THESE THINGS
asher anochi m’tzav’cha
which I command you
(COMPEL YOU)
hayom
THIS DAY
al l’vavecha.
be upon your heart
(DEEP IN THE CORE OF YOUR BEING)
V’shinantam
teach them
(BE A BEACON)
l’vanecha
TO YOUR CHILDREN
v’dibarta bam
and speak of them
(AN ETERNAL INVOCATION)
b’shivt’cha
IN STILLNESS
b’veitecha
IN YOUR HOME
uv’lecht’cha vaderech
and on your way
(THE TWITCH AND QUICK WITHOUT)
uv’shochb’cha uv’kumecha
when you lay down
(DREAMING)
and when you rise
(ASCENDING)
Uk’shartam l’ot al yadecha
bind them as a sign upon your hand
(YOUR HANDS BOUND WITH ALL OTHERS)
v’hayu l’totafot bein einecha
and let them be a symbol between your eyes
(NARROW YOUR VISION)
Uch’tavtam
INSCRIBE THEM
al m’zuzot beitecha
ON THE DOORPOSTS OF YOUR HOUSE
uvish’arecha.
and your gates
(EVERY THRESHOLD, EVERY PASSAGE, A SANCTIFIED RENEWAL)
L’maan tizk’ru
THUS YOU SHALL REMEMBER
Va-asitem et kol mitzvotai
and do all My commandments
(SACRED OPPORTUNITIES)
vih’yitem k’doshim
AND BE HOLY
l’Eloheichem.
to your sovereign
(ALL THAT WAS, IS, AND WILL BE)
Ani
I (AM)
Adonai Eloheichem
your God
(THE QUANTUM MECHANIC)
asher hotzeiti et-chem
who led you out
(MERCIFUL GRAVITY)
mei-eretz Mitzrayim
from a narrow place
(CONSTRICTED IN A LAND OF BURNING SAND)
lih’yot lachem l’Elohim
to be your source of all forces
(PULSING TENSEGRITY)
Ani Adonai Eloheichem.
I AM ALL THAT WAS, IS, AND WILL BE...
(SELAH, SELAH)
Hebrew lyrics from Deuteronomy 6:5–9, and Numbers 15:40-41
Music and expanded translation © 2015 by Billy Jonas (Bang-A-Bucket Music/BMI)
V’ahavta
AND YOU SHALL LOVE
et Adonai Elohecha
ALL THAT WAS, IS, AND WILL BE
b’chol l’vavcha
with all your heart
(YEARNING)
uv’chol nafsh’cha
with all your soul
(SHIMMERING QUINTESSENCE)
uv’chol m’odecha.
with all your might
(TREMBLING SINEW)
V’hayu
AND MAY IT BE
had’varim ha-eileh
ALL THESE THINGS
asher anochi m’tzav’cha
which I command you
(COMPEL YOU)
hayom
THIS DAY
al l’vavecha.
be upon your heart
(DEEP IN THE CORE OF YOUR BEING)
V’shinantam
teach them
(BE A BEACON)
l’vanecha
TO YOUR CHILDREN
v’dibarta bam
and speak of them
(AN ETERNAL INVOCATION)
b’shivt’cha
IN STILLNESS
b’veitecha
IN YOUR HOME
uv’lecht’cha vaderech
and on your way
(THE TWITCH AND QUICK WITHOUT)
uv’shochb’cha uv’kumecha
when you lay down
(DREAMING)
and when you rise
(ASCENDING)
Uk’shartam l’ot al yadecha
bind them as a sign upon your hand
(YOUR HANDS BOUND WITH ALL OTHERS)
v’hayu l’totafot bein einecha
and let them be a symbol between your eyes
(NARROW YOUR VISION)
Uch’tavtam
INSCRIBE THEM
al m’zuzot beitecha
ON THE DOORPOSTS OF YOUR HOUSE
uvish’arecha.
and your gates
(EVERY THRESHOLD, EVERY PASSAGE, A SANCTIFIED RENEWAL)
L’maan tizk’ru
THUS YOU SHALL REMEMBER
Va-asitem et kol mitzvotai
and do all My commandments
(SACRED OPPORTUNITIES)
vih’yitem k’doshim
AND BE HOLY
l’Eloheichem.
to your sovereign
(ALL THAT WAS, IS, AND WILL BE)
Ani
I (AM)
Adonai Eloheichem
your God
(THE QUANTUM MECHANIC)
asher hotzeiti et-chem
who led you out
(MERCIFUL GRAVITY)
mei-eretz Mitzrayim
from a narrow place
(CONSTRICTED IN A LAND OF BURNING SAND)
lih’yot lachem l’Elohim
to be your source of all forces
(PULSING TENSEGRITY)
Ani Adonai Eloheichem.
I AM ALL THAT WAS, IS, AND WILL BE...
(SELAH, SELAH)