LaNer Velivsamim

Laner Velivsamim nafshi m'yachelah,
Im tit'nu li kos yayin l'havdalah.

Solu d'rachim li panu l'navuchah,
Pitchu sh'arim li kol malachei malah.

Einai ani esa el El b'lev kosef,
Mamtsi tzorchai li bayom uvalayla.

Dei machsor ten li me'otzrot tuvach,
Ki lakhasadecha ein ketz v'ein tichlah.

Yitchad'sha gili tarfi v'tovati,
Tasir y'gonotai, mach'ov um'afelah.

Hineh yamei ma'seh mitchad'shim tamid,
Y'chad'shah bahem shalom v'tov selah...
Anah...

My soul yearns for the candle and the fragrant spices,
if you would give me a cup of wine for Havdalah.

Pave the roads for me, clear them for one who is lost.
Open the gates for me, all you angels above.

I shall raise my eyes up to G-d with a heart full of yearning,
He Who makes all my needs available to me by day and by night.

Whatever is lacking, please give to me
from Your storehouses of good, for to your kindnesses, there is no end or limit.

Refresh my age, my sprouting leaves, and my goodness,
take away my sorrows, pain and darkness.

Behold! The days of work constantly renew.
May peace and goodness be renewed in them forever!

This pizmon, signed with the acrostic לסעדיה, was written in the 17th century by Saadyah ben Yosef of Yemen. It opens with the four mitzvot involved in the Havdalah service: the candle (נר), the spices (בשמים), wine (יין), and Havdalah itself.

It continues with a fervent prayer that all one lacks be given from G-d's storehouses of good, with day filled with peace and goodness.