Shabbat Songs : Bar Yochai

Bar Yochai, nimshahta - ashrecha!
Shemen sason mei'haveirecha.
 
Bar Yochai, shemen mishhat kodesh 
Nimshahta mimidat haKodesh
Nasata tzitz neizer haKodesh
Havush al rosh'ha p'eirecha
 
Bar Yochai, moshav tov yashavta,
Yom nasta, yom asher barahta
Bi'marat tzurim she'amadta
Sham kanita hod'cha vahadarech

Bar Yochai, atzei shittim om'dim
Limudei Hashem hem lom'dim
Or muphleh, or haY'kod heim yoke'dim
Halo heimah yorucha morecha

Bar Yohai, v'lisdei tapuhim
Aalita lilkot bo merkahim
Sod Torah k'tzitzim u'phrahim
Na'aseh adam n'e'mar ba'avurecha

Bar Yochai, ne'ezarta bigvurah
Uv'milhemet eish dat haSha'rah
V'herev hotzeita mita'raah
Shalaphta neged tzorerecha

Bar Yochai, limkom avnei shayish
Higa'ta u'phnei aryeih layish
Gam gulat koteret aal aayish
Tashuri u'mi y'shurecha

Bar Yochai, b'Kodesh haKodashim
Kav yarok, m'hadesh hodashim
Shevaa shabatot, sod hamishim
Kasharta kishrei shin k'sharecha

Bar Yochai, yud chochmah k'dumah
Hishkaphta lichvodo p'nimah
Leiv n'tivot reishit t'rumah
At k'ruv mi'm'shah ziv orecha

Bar Yochai, ore muphleh rum ma'lah
Yareita mi'l'habit ki rav laah
Ta'alumah v'ayin korei laah
Na'amta aayin lo t'shurecha

Bar Yochai, ashrei yolad'techa!
Ashrei ha'am heim lom'decha
V'ashrei haOm'dim al sodecha
L'vushei hoshen tumecha v'urecha

Bar Yochai, fortunate are you, anointed with joyous oil [i.e. wisdom], over and above your companions.

Bar Yochai, You were anointed with the holy oil that flows down from the transcendent [source of mercy]. [Like the High Priest], you wore a holy crown that set you aside from other men, an aura of splendor bound eternally upon your head. 

Bar Yochai, It was a comely dwelling that you found, on the day you ran away and escaped from the Romans. [For thirteen years] you stood in the sand of the rocky cave - there you merited to your crown of splendor and radiance.

Bar Yochai, Your students are like the [strong and beautiful] beams of acacia wood [used to hold up the Tabernacle]. When they learn G‑d's Torah, they become ignited with the wondrous burning light [of its secrets]. Behold, these secrets were revealed to you by your teachers [Moses and Elijah]. 

Bar Yochai, [While still alive] you ascended to the Field of Apples [Garden of Eden] to gather remedies [for the souls of your people]. Secrets of the Torah whose fragrances are sweeter than blossoms and flowers. For you alone the entire creation of Man was worthwhile. 

Bar Yochai, You girded yourself with strength and attained total self-mastery in order to fight the battle of the Torah of [black fire on white] fire in the gates [where the judges sat]. You unsheathed its sword and brandished it against the enemies [of your people]. 

Bar Yochai, You ascended to a palace of pure light marble stones. Even there you [hardened your face like the lion, and] stood unmoved before the constellation of Leo. Crowned in glory, you ascended beyond the Great Bear [to perceive wonders that no mortal ever grasped]. You saw, but who could see you?

Bar Yochai, When you reached the Holy of Holies [of the Supernal Tabernacle, you grasped the secret of] the Green Line (the thread of measured light through which G‑d created the world and) through which He continually renews the works of Creation daily. [The works of Creation are known as] the Seven Weeks (Forty-Nine Gates of Understanding). In order to go beyond this and grasp the secret of Fifty, you bound [your thought to] the letter shin [on both sides of the Head-Tefilin]. 

Bar Yochai, You perceived the inner radiance of the letter yud, the ineffable wisdom of the Torah that preceded Creation. [You mastered] the Thirty-Two Paths [that flow from the yud, the essence of the Torah which is called] the "First Teruma". Then, like the Cherubim [on high], you were anointed with the splendor of [G‑d's] radiant light.

Bar Yochai, When you reached the highest level of the mysterious hidden light, you feared to gaze due to the enormity of its radiance. It [is the most hidden level of G‑d's Will and Purpose which] is called No-thing, concerning which [G‑d] said, "No man can see Me [and remain physically alive]."
 
Bar Yochai, Fortunate is the mother who bore you, fortunate is the nation that imbibes your teachings! And fortunate are those who grasp the secrets [you revealed]! They don the Breastplate of your perfections and lights.