Behold!

Lo’ yisà’ goy ’èl goy khèrèv.
Lo’ yilmedu ‘od milkhàmàh.

[Nation shall not lift up sword against nation.
They shall study war no more.]

Har’eh ‘at mekudeshet li.
Har’eh ‘at.

Hashmi’ini ‘et kolech,
ki kolech ‘arev
umarech naveh.
Hashmi’ini.

[“Behold, you are made holy to me.
Behold, you.”]

[“Let me hear your voice
because it is so pleasing
and your looks are so lovely.
Let me hear.”]

Words from the text recited when exchanging rings combined with text from Shir HaShirim, the “Song Of Songs”

Bird, landing on a treetop,
take a rest from flight.
‘Cross the river come a sister-call.
Bird sail out of sight.

Fly, fly, fly away bird,
on the edge of winter night.
‘Cross the river come a sister-call.
Bird sail out of sight.

The bird has appeared as a symbol of freedom (or lack thereof) in songs and stories throughout the world. This song is dedicated to all who dare.

Sham’ah vatismach tziyon,
vatagelnah bnot yehudah.

[Zion heard and rejoiced
and the daughters of Judah celebrated.]

Words: Psalm 97:8

Ve’eyrastich li betsedek uvemishpat
bechesed uverachamim.
Ve’eyrastich li be’emunah
le’olam, le’olam va’ed.

[I will betroth you with righteousness, justice,
love, and compassion.
I will betroth you with faithfulness
forever and ever.]

Words adapted from Hosea 2:21-22

If you can walk,
then you can dance.
If you can talk,
then you can sing.

Don’t have to walk,
but you can dance.
don’t have to talk,
but you can sing.

Words adapted from Zimbabwe folk wisdom.

Camarada, I give you my hand.
I give you my love,
more precious than money.
Camarada, I give you my hand.

Camarada, I give you myself
before preaching or law.
Camarada I give you my hand.
Will you give my yourself
and come travel with me?
Camarada, I give you my hand.
Shall we stick by each other
as long as we live?
Camarada, I give you my hand.

Words adapted from Walt Whitman’s Song of the Open Road.

‘Eli, ‘Eli,
shelo’ yigamer le’olam
hachol vehayam,
rishrush shel hamayim
berak hashamayim,
tfilat ha’adam;
hachol vehayam,
rishrush shel hamayim
berak hashamayim,
tfilat ha’adam.

Oh hear my words,
that these things shall never end:
the sand and the sea,
the rush of the waters,
the thundering heavens,
the prayers of our heart;
the sand and the sea,
the rush of the waters,
the thundering heavens,
the prayers of our heart.

My wings span
as far as
my mind soars,
as high as
my heart opens wide,
and my dream flies
way beyond wildwood,
back to my childhood,
when I first felt
my wings span…