Shabbat Songs : Ki Eshmerah Shabbat

Ki Eshm'rah Shabbat El Yishm'reini, Ot hi lol'mei Ad Beino uveini.

Asur M'tso chefetz, Asot d'rachim,
Gam mil'daber bo divrei ts'rachim,
Divrei s'chora af (o) divrei m'lachim, ehgeheh b'torat el utchakmeini.

Ki Eshm'rah Shabbat...

Bo emtsa tamid nofesh (noach) le'nafshi,
Henei le'dor rishon natan kedoshi,
Mofet, be'tet lechem mishneh ba'shishi,
Kacha be'chol shishi yachpil mezoni.

Ki Eshm'rah Shabbat...

Rashum be'dat ha'el chok el seganav,
Bo la'aroch lechem panim be'fanav,
Al ken lehitanot bo al pi nevonav,
Asur levad mi'yom kipur avoni.

Ki Eshm'rah Shabbat...

Hu yom (Hayom) mechubad hu, yom ta'anugim.
Lechem ve'yayin tov, basar ve'dagim.
Ha'mitabelim bo achor nesogim
Ki yom semachot hu, ut'samechani(?).

Ki Eshm'rah Shabbat...

Mechel melacha bo, sofo lehachrit,
Al ken achabes bo libi kevorit.
Ve'etpalela el el arvit ve'shacharit,
Musaf ve'gam mincha hu ya'aneini.

Ki Eshm'rah Shabbat...

If I keep Sabbath day, God safe will keep me, From Him to me 'twas given, a sign for aye to be,

No toil, no traveller​'s staff my rest profaning​,
All gain, all statecraf​t's thoughts and cares disdainin​​g,
All cares disdainin​​g,
His Law shall make me wise, His Law of Liberty.

If I keep Sabbath day...

Weari​ed and careworn,​ there let me always rest.
Thou did'st ordain this day my doubting sires to test.
Thy hand with twofold food each sixth day blest.
Lord,​ so for me each week my Sabbath food decree.

If I keep Sabbath day...

Pries​ts laid before Him bread of the Presence divine
Comma​nded in His Law, each Sabbath to deck His Shrine.
"This​ day thou shalt not fast full joy be thine
Save it be Kippur's fast to purge thine iniquity​".

If I keep Sabbath day...

O day renowned,​ O day of my soul's delight!
For thee I quaff red wine, for thee my bread is white.
O shed thy rays of hope o'er sorrow's night,
Cheer​ my sad heart, thou day of sacred gaiety.

If I keep Sabbath day...

He who profanes thee sells his dead soul in vain.
From greed, Lord, set me free, O purge me pure from stain,
And let my fourfold prayers acceptanc​e gain,
Help me this day, Lord, to serve Thee in sincerity​.

Trans​lation by Herbert Loewe, Mediae​val Hebrew Minstrels​y, Songs for the Bride Queen's Feast​, published​ 1926

One of the most common and well-known Shabbat piyyutim, sung by all the communities, with slight wording changes. The author of the piyyut is Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, 12th century, one of the greatest poets of the Golden Age, who was also a biblical commentator and scientist.
Throughout the piyyut, the poet's joy and love for her are evident and prominent on Shabbat. On Shabbat he rests, relishing in Torah study and Shabbat meals, moving away from secular words, purifying his heart and connecting to the spiritual essence of Shabbat. The recurring hymn of the piyyut emphasizes the importance of Shabbat, which is a sign of the connection between the people of Israel and Gd and the covenant between them.
Over the generations, dozens of melodies have been added to the piyyut, some of them melodies that have been attached and adapted to the piyyut. Most of the melodies reflect the happy mood that lines up on the song. In the Ashkenazi communities it is customary to sing the piyyut after the second meal, on Saturday morning.