Lecha Eli Teshukati

Lecha Eli Teshukati -
R. Avraham Ibn Ezra

About the Piyut
This deeply personal Piyut, authored by the great Sephardic Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra, opens the Yom
Kippur prayers among most Sephardic communities. Although some scholars throughout the ages have
claimed that this text may have been written by Rabbi Yehudi Ha-Levi, most agree that it was crafted by the
pen of Rabbi Ibn Ezra. Throughout the text, the author describes his innermost feelings, his pining for the
Lord and for His closeness. He thanks God for all he has received beginning with his daily life and
ending with his death.The author requests forgiveness from his God for all aberrations and sins he has
committed.
Hebrew Text

L'cha eynai v-raiyonai / v-tzurati v-tavniti
L'cha ruchi lcha kochi / u-mivtachi v-tikvati
L'cha libi v-dam chelbi / k-seh akriv v-olati
Lcha yachid bli sheyni / lcha toda ychidati
L'cha malchut lcha geut / lcha teot t'hilati
L'cha ezra bet tzara / heyeh ezri btzarati
L'cha ochil bet achil / k-yoleda b-anchati
L'cha sivri rfa shivri / v-et tziri u-makati
Lecha Eli teshukati / bcha cheshki v'-ahavati

L'cha libi v-chilyotai / lcha ruchi v'-nishmati
L'cha yadai lcha raglai / u-mimcha hi tchunati
L'cha atzmi lcha dami / v-uri im gviyati
L'cha ehemeh v'-lo edneh / adey tair afelati
L'cha netzach bcha evtach / v-ata hu eyaluti
L'cha ezak bcha edbak / adey shuvi l-admati
L'cha ani b'odi chai / v-af ki achrei moti
L'cha odeh v-etvadeh / aley cheti v-rishati
L'cha yishi slach rishi / v-et pishi v-ashmati
L'cha evkeh b-lev nidkeh / ba-rov sichi v-tugati
L'cha chesed lcha chemla / chamol al kol tlaotai
V-lachen gadlu tzirai / v-katzarti zriyati
V-oy alai v-ha li im / tdineyni k-rish'ati
V-yitzri tzoreri tamid / kmo satan lumati
Yatzani u-fitani / b-moatzot l'-ra'ati
V-alav lo aley bilto / chamasi im tlunati
V'-et yaalu aley libi / avonotai b-mitati
L'cha ikaf v'-efros kaf / shma na et tchinati
V-gadol minso cheti / v-gadla yad meshuvati
Me'od efchad v'-gam er'ad / meod yigdal mehumati
V-yavou ymey shalom / v-tikrav et p'kudati
V-shimach et shma'atihu / meod zati v-yireti
U-mi yaamod lfanecha / u-mo yihyeh t'murati
V-ta'iti v-yaatzti / v-chizavti v'-chafarti
V'-lotzatzti v'-gam latzti / u-maradti u-mariti
V-niatzti v-niafti / v-sararti v-srachti
V-aviti v-heeviti / u-fashati u-fagamti
V-ergaz et ehi zocher / lfanecha meuvati

V-e'emod negdcha erom / u-ma tihyeh t'shuvati
B-yom bi yaaneh kachashi/ vochal mi-pri dati
V-ech cheshbon lcha eten / v-ech etzdak b-ta'anati

V'-ashamti v-aravti / u-vagadti u-vaziti
V-gazalti v'-ganavti / hare'oti v-hirshati
V'-gam zad'ti v-chamasti / v-chatati v'-hech'teti
V-tzararti v-tziarti / v-kilalti v'-kilkalti

V-rashati v-shichatti / v-tiavti v-taiti
V-sarti mi-darchecha / v-chisatni chlimati
V'-higdalti asot resha / v-hechezakti b'-rishati
V-chichashti u-maalti / v-ashakti v-ratzoti
V-shatati b'-reshitit / v-rashati bachariti
V'-ashamti b-yalduti / u-vagadti b-ziknati
U-vachalti b-toratcha / u-vacharti b-torati
V'-azavti rtzoncha / v-halachti b'-ta'avati
V-hishlamti retzon yitzri / v-lo banti lachariti

V'-hirbeti lhosif chet / aley rishi v-chovati
V'-lachen kista fanai / k'limati v'-gam boshti
V-eyn li biltecha manos / u-mimcha hi slichati
V'-al na taalem oznecha / l-ravchati l-shavati
Arov avdach l-tova gam / emor na dai l-tzarati
V-hareni tshuatach / b-terem yom t'-mutati
V-yom nafli b-pach mokshai / Smoch na et nfilati
U-mochel biltecha ayin / u-meitcha mechilati

V-im tavi b-mishpat / dcha ma hi gvurati
U-ma ani u-ma chayai / u-ma kochi v'-otzmati
K-kash nidaf meod nehedaf / v-ech tizkor mshugati
V-ne'elamti v-nichlamti / v-chistani chlimati
Rtzoncha eshala tamid / lmalot et she'elati
V-herev kab'sini / me-avonotai v-chatati
V-habet rov tlaotai / v-daluti b'-galoti
V-la'ana sava nafshi / adey katzti b-chayati

Aseh imi ltova ot / v-kuma na l-ezrati
Havineini avodatcha / v'-l'cha tihyeh avodati
Hashiveini v-ashuva / v-tirtzeh et tshuvati
Hachi ata mnat chelki / v-rinati v-tovati

V'-gorali u-mhaleli / v-chol gili v-simchati
Sson libi v-or eynai / u-mauzi v-chemdati
U-margoi v-shaashui / m-nuchati v-shalvati
V-horeini drachecha / v-yasher et ntivati

V-tishma et tfilati / v-taaneh et atirati
B'-chol libi drashticha / aneini Yah drishati
Anasecha et dma'i lach / mcheh cheti b-dim'ati
Esof na et avonotai / b-chasdach yom asifati
V'-yom lechti lfanecha rtzeh na et halichati
V'-im osi rtzonach / tna schar pulati
V'-tishlach malachey ha-chen / v-yatzu na lumati
V'-shalom boacha yomru / b'-kol echad b'viyati
Yaviuni l'-gan edncha / v'-sham tihyeh y'shivati
V-etaden b-orecha / v-sim kavod mnuchati
V'-nafshi amra chelki / Adonai hi v-nachalati
V-or ganuz l'fanecha / y'hi sitri v-sukati

V-tachat tzel knafecha / tna na et mchitzati
English Translation
My longing, My God, is for
You
I was advised and tempted

by it
I have loathed Your

teachings
Return me and I will

return
My desire and love is for

You
With devices toward my

evil ways
And have chosen my

own teachings
And You will desire my

repentance
My heart and innards are

Yours
To Him, and none but Him
I have abandoned Your

will
Show me Your ways
My soul and breath are

Yours
My anger and complaints
And I have followed

my desire
And straighten my path
My arms and legs are

Yours
And when into my heart

ascend
I have fulfilled
inclinations will
my
And You will hear my

prayer
My character is from You
My sins, as I lie in bed
And
I
have
not
considered my end
And You will answer my

supplication
My bones and blood are

Yours
I am afraid, I tremble too
I have added many sins
I have sought
wholeheartedly
My skin and my body
My confusion increases
To my wickedness and
my guilt
Answer me, God, with

what I seek
My eyes and thoughts are

Yours
I am agitated when I
mention
Therefore my face is
covered
I pour out my tears to

You
My shape and my form
My sins before You
By my shame and my
embarrassment
Wipe away my sins as I

cry
My spirit and strength are

Yours
I stand naked before You
I have no refuge but

You
My soul
portion
My trust and my hope is

You
What will my answer be
My forgiveness comes
from You
God is my inheritance
says,
You
My
My heart, blood, and fat

are Yours
On the day my deceptions

testify against me
There is no pardoner
but You
Please gather up my sins
Like the sheep I sacrifice,

my offering
I will eat the fruit of my

actions
My pardon comes from

You
In Your kindness on the

day I am gathered up
To You, the One with no

second
The days of payment will

come
If you bring Your

servant to judgement
And the day I walk before

You
My
only
soul
acknowledge You
The time of punishment

draws near
What is
worth
might
Please accept my walking
Yours is kingship, majesty

Yours
When I hear your tidings
What am I, what is my
life
And with those who do

Your will
My praise befits You
I quake and fear very much
What is my strength
and my power
Place the reward for my

actions
Help in troubled times

comes from You
Who can stand before You
Like blowing
driven away
chaff
And send the angels of

favor
Be my help in the time of

my trouble
And who
exchange
my
How
will
You
remember my mistakes
And let them go out to

me
My hope when I tremble is

to You
How can I give an account

to You
I have become mute

and ashamed
And they will

Come in peace
When I sigh like a woman

giving birth
How can I be righteous in

my claim
And my shame has

covered me
With one voice when I

arrive
I hope to You, heal my

fracture
I am ashamed and I have

ambushed
I will always ask for

Your favor
Let them bring me to

Your Garden of Eden
My pain and my wounds
I have betrayed and I have

scorned
To grant my requests:
And let my dwelling be

there
I long, without quieting,

for You
I have stolen and I have

robbed
And
wash
thoroughly
me
And I will enjoy Your

light
Until You illuminate my

darkness
I have become evil and

wicked
from my iniquities and

my sins
And place honor in my

resting place
Eternity is Yours, I trust in

You
I have also been rebellious

and corrupt
See my great distress
The light hidden before

You
My strength is You
I have sinned and caused

others to sin
And my helplessness in
my exile
Will be my protection
and my shelter
I call to You, I cling to You
I have strayed and I have

advised wrongly
Please do not hide Your

ear
And under the shade of

Your wings
Until I return to my land
I have deceived and I have

denied
From my sighing and

crying out
Please give me my place
While I still live I am Yours
I have mocked and I have

scorned
Your servant is also an

advocate for good
And even after my death
I have rebelled and I have

defied
Please say, Enough to

my troubles
will
can
be
my
say,
I admit and confess before

You
I have spurned and I have

committed adultery
Show
me
salvation
For my sins
wickedness
my
I have been stubborn and I

have exceeded limits
Before the day I die
My salvation is Yours,
forgive my wickedness
I have distorted and caused

distortion
And the day I fall into

my enemies trap
My crimes and my guilt
I have sinned and I have

become blemished
Support
falling
I bow and spread my

hands to You
I have been hostile and I

have caused pain
My soul is sated with

wormwood
Please
hear
supplication
my
I have cursed and I have

gone wrong
Making me weary of
my life
I cry with a downtrodden

heart to You
I have been evil and I have

been corrupt
Display for me a sign

for good
With my many complaints

and my grief
I have been abominable and

made mistakes
And rise to my aid
Kindness is Yours, mercy

Yours
And I have left your path
For You are my portion
Have mercy on all my

hardship
And my shame has covered

me
My joyful cry and my

good
My sin is too great to bear
I have increasingly done

evil
My fate and my praise
My lapses too large
And continued
evilness
All
my
happiness
Therefore my pains are

great
And I have lied and I have

been treacherous
My hearts exultation,
the light of my eyes
My planting falls short
I have extorted and I have

oppressed
My strength and my
desire
And alas! woe is me
I sinned at my beginning
My rest and my delight
If You judge me according

to my wickedness
And I was evil at my end
My quietness and my
serenity
My inclination
constant enemy
I was guilty in my youth
Teach me to understand
Your service
And I rebelled in my old

age
My service will be to
You
and
is
my
Like an adversary against

me
in
my
me
your
in
joy
Translation by Abigail Denemark
Recording by Yair Gdassi
my
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Lecha Eli Teshukati -

R. Avraham Ibn Ezra

L'cha eynai v-raiyonai / v-tzurati v-tavniti

L'cha ruchi lcha kochi / u-mivtachi v-tikvati

L'cha libi v-dam chelbi / k-seh akriv v-olati

Lcha yachid bli sheyni / lcha toda ychidati

L'cha malchut lcha geut / lcha teot t'hilati

L'cha ezra bet tzara / heyeh ezri btzarati

L'cha ochil bet achil / k-yoleda b-anchati

L'cha sivri rfa shivri / v-et tziri u-makati

Lecha Eli teshukati / bcha cheshki v'-ahavati

L'cha ehemeh v'-lo edneh / adey tair afelati

L'cha netzach bcha evtach / v-ata hu eyaluti

L'cha ezak bcha edbak / adey shuvi l-admati

L'cha ani b'odi chai / v-af ki achrei moti

L'cha odeh v-etvadeh / aley cheti v-rishati

L'cha yishi slach rishi / v-et pishi v-ashmati

L'cha evkeh b-lev nidkeh / ba-rov sichi v-tugati

L'cha chesed lcha chemla / chamol al kol tlaotai

V-lachen gadlu tzirai / v-katzarti zriyati

V-oy alai v-ha li im / tdineyni k-rish'ati

V-yitzri tzoreri tamid / kmo satan lumati

Yatzani u-fitani / b-moatzot l'-ra'ati

V-alav lo aley bilto / chamasi im tlunati

V'-et yaalu aley libi / avonotai b-mitati

L'cha ikaf v'-efros kaf / shma na et tchinati

V-gadol minso cheti / v-gadla yad meshuvati

Me'od efchad v'-gam er'ad / meod yigdal mehumati

V-yavou ymey shalom / v-tikrav et p'kudati

V-shimach et shma'atihu / meod zati v-yireti

U-mi yaamod lfanecha / u-mo yihyeh t'murati

V-ta'iti v-yaatzti / v-chizavti v'-chafarti

V'-lotzatzti v'-gam latzti / u-maradti u-mariti

V-niatzti v-niafti / v-sararti v-srachti

V-aviti v-heeviti / u-fashati u-fagamti

V-ergaz et ehi zocher / lfanecha meuvati

V-ech cheshbon lcha eten / v-ech etzdak b-ta'anati

V-tzararti v-tziarti / v-kilalti v'-kilkalti

V'-ashamti b-yalduti / u-vagadti b-ziknati

U-vachalti b-toratcha / u-vacharti b-torati

V'-azavti rtzoncha / v-halachti b'-ta'avati

V-hishlamti retzon yitzri / v-lo banti lachariti

V'-lachen kista fanai / k'limati v'-gam boshti

V-eyn li biltecha manos / u-mimcha hi slichati

V'-al na taalem oznecha / l-ravchati l-shavati

Arov avdach l-tova gam / emor na dai l-tzarati

V-hareni tshuatach / b-terem yom t'-mutati

V-yom nafli b-pach mokshai / Smoch na et nfilati

U-mochel biltecha ayin / u-meitcha mechilati

V-la'ana sava nafshi / adey katzti b-chayati

Havineini avodatcha / v'-l'cha tihyeh avodati

Hashiveini v-ashuva / v-tirtzeh et tshuvati

Hachi ata mnat chelki / v-rinati v-tovati

V-horeini drachecha / v-yasher et ntivati

Esof na et avonotai / b-chasdach yom asifati

V'-yom lechti lfanecha rtzeh na et halichati

V'-im osi rtzonach / tna schar pulati

V'-tishlach malachey ha-chen / v-yatzu na lumati

V'-shalom boacha yomru / b'-kol echad b'viyati

Yaviuni l'-gan edncha / v'-sham tihyeh y'shivati