Come, faithful community, let us sing

Joseph Shalom Gallego

Early 17th Century

Come, faithful community,

To Him who dwells on high,

Come, let us sing.

O garden dweller,

Young and old,

Come, let us sing.

We will exalt His name,

We are His people,

Come, let us sing.

His essence is hidden on high,

He chose Zion

Come, let us sing.

Burst with song and praise

Hidden, but revealed

Come, let us sing.

He who dwells on high

Shone upon the ancestors,

Come, let us sing.

Eloquent praises

For His promises of good

Come let us sing.

My our eyes behold

In Zion, God’s city,

Come let us sing.

He, above human thought, ,

For He decided to dwell

Come let us sing.

Be strong, House of Jacob,

For God will bless

Come let us sing.

let us sing
your creator, O Jacob.

raise song and hymns:
all together, Jacob’s house.

He, unique in His world.
His servant Jacob’s seed.

elevated above elevation.
and the House of Jacob.

to Him of fearsome deeds,
to the eyes of all Israel.

and examines all hearts.
and still shines upon Israel.

suit Him well,
to the House of Israel.

our people gathered
the dwelling of peace.

devised good for His folk
in my abode of peace.

Remnant Israel,
His people with peace.

Translated by Raymond P. Scheindlin.

Credits

Joseph Shalom Gallego, “Come, Faithful Community, Let Us Sing” (song, Amsterdam, early 17th century). Published in: Edwin Seroussi, “R. Yossef Shalom Gallego Author of Imrei No'am: A Cantor from Saloniki in Early 17th-Century Amsterdam, with Annotations on the Poets, the Poems by Joseph Shalom Gallego and an Analytical Index by Tova Beeri,” Asufot: Annual for Jewish Studies 6 (1992): 87–150 (131).

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.