Ma Tovu

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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.

[edit] Hebrew text

מה טבו אהליך יעקב, משכנותיך ישראל. [1]
ואני ברב חסדך אבוא ביתך אשתחוה אל היכל קדשך ביראתך. [2]
יהוה אהבתי מעון ביתך, ומקום משכן כבודך. [3]
ואני אשתחוה ואכרעה, אברכה לפני ה׳ עשי. [4]
ואני, תפלתי לך ה׳, עת רצון, אלהים ברב חסדך, ענני באמת ישעך. [5]

[edit] Transliteration

Ma tovu ohalekha ya'akov. Mishk'notekha yisrael.
Va'ani b'rov hasd'kha, avo veytekha,
Eshtahaveh el heikhal kodsh'kha b'yiratekha.
Adonai ahavti m'on beitekha. Um'kom mishkan k'vodekha.
Va'ani eshtahave v'ekhraa.
Evr'kha lifnei Adonai osi.
Va'ani t'filati l'kha Adonai eit ratzon.
Elohim b'rov hasdekha aneyni b'emet yishekha.

[edit] English translation

How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!
But I, with Your great loving-kindness, shall enter Your House; I shall prostrate myself toward Your Holy Temple in the fear of You.
O Lord, I love the dwelling of Your house and the place of the residence of Your glory.
Come, let us prostrate ourselves and bow; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
But, as for me, may my prayer to You, O Lord, be in an acceptable time. O God, with Your abundant kindness, answer me with the truth of Your salvation.