28. Vāl̲vanna Vāl̲vum (Blessing Song)

A song of blessing for many occasions especially for the bridegroom for an infant boy before brit milah (circumcision) and for the pidyon ha-ben (ritual for redeeming a first-born son). Variants are found in nineteen different notebooks indicating the song's popularity and making is difficult to decipher its meaning. The text refers specifically to childbrith and it echoes a number of the morning blessing in the Hebrew liturgy.

Text

May all blessings be upon you;
May you be blessed with children and shalom.
Be blessed, be blessed and multiply in the earth.
Take possession to divide it, so that you may survive upon it.
Be blessed with strength and perform mighty acts.
May all your possessions multiply and may nothing be lost.
All tongues freely praise you for arranging this feast.

***

Oh high exalted God!
Offspring come by Your commandment,
And merit is sustained by childbirth.
Let us praise Him for this childbirth,
The One who gives us food so that we might live in happiness.

Oh Majestic One, may it be Your will to cause us to walk in Your path.
We bless You for not having made us slaves,
For removing our suffering,
For filling our needs again and again,
For crowning us with glory,
For giving us even more than we need
For raising us up, even more than in the past.
So we are blessing You!

Sing praise for the wealth that they received
More than ever they are lifted up.
He knows in His mind everything that they desire.
All this He gave for his servants.
Before the God Who is the only One,
Let there be no hesitation.
let us stand before the Lord.

According to God's promise, given to those who obey Him,
All has come true for the obedient, according to His words.
He has provided protection over us, before us and after us,
He guids us on our way, and we shall bow down before Him.