Ma Tovu

Ma Tovu (Hebrew for "O How Good" or "How Goodly") is a prayer in Judaism, expressing reverence and awe for synagogues and other places of worship.

The prayer begins with Numbers 24:5, where Balaam, sent to curse the Israelites, is instead overcome with awe at God and the Israelites' houses of worship. Its first line of praise is a quote of Balaam's blessing and is thus the only prayer commonly used in Jewish services that was written by a non-Jew. The remainder of the text is derived from passages in Psalms relating to entering the house of worship and preparation for further prayer (Psalms 5:8; 26:8; 95:6; and 69:14). In this vein is the prayer recited by Jews upon entering the synagogue; in the Western Ashkenzic rite, it is usually sung before beginning Maariv on Festivals, especially the second night of Yom Tov.

Text

Hebrew מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל ואני ברב חסדך, אבוא ביתך אשתחווה אל היכל קדשך, ביראתך ה' אהבתי מעון ביתך ומקום משכן כבודך ואני אשתחווה ואכרעה אברכה לפני ה' עשי ואני תפילתי לך ה' את רצון אלוקים ברב חסדך ענני באמת ישעך

Romanization Ma tovu ohalekha Ya'akov, mishk'notekha Yisra'el. Va'ani b'rov hasd'kha, avo veytekha, eshtahaveh el heikhal kodsh'kha b'yir'atekha. Adonai, ahavti m'on beitekha um'kom mishkan k'vodekha. Va'ani eshtakhaveh ve'ekhra'ah, avar'kha lifnei Adonai osi. Va'ani t'filati l'kha Adonai et ratzon, Elohim b'rov hasdekha aneini be'emet yish'ekha.

English translation How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! As for me, through Your abundant grace, I enter your house to worship with awe in Your sacred place. O Lord, I love the House where you dwell, and the place where your glory tabernacles. I shall prostrate myself and bow; I shall kneel before the Lord my Maker. To You, Eternal One, goes my prayer: may this be a time of your favor. In Your abundant love, O God, answer me with the Truth of Your salvation.

Musical settings

In modern times various composers have developed musical settings for Ma Tovu including:

• Samuel Adler
• Robert Strassburg (1993)
• Moshav Band

External links

• Recordings of tunes to Ma Tovu on the Zemirot Database
• Recordings of Ma Tovu spoken in different speeds