This video presents a simple, clear version of the most popular melody for Eishet Chayil, composed by Ben Zion Shenker in 1953. With on screen Hebrew, English and transliterated lyrics of the text from Proverbs 31, this video is a helpful resource for anyone who wants to learn how to sing along. Eishet Chayil is traditionally sung at the Shabbat table on Friday night prior to Kiddush, as both a literal song of praise to the woman of the house as well as an allegorical song to the personified «Sabbath Queen.» This video is produced by the Messianic Jewish organization, Vine of David.
Proverbs 31:10-31
י. אֵשֶׁת חַיִל מִי יִמְצָא וְרָחֹק מִפְּנִינִים מִכְרָהּ
יא. בָּטַח בָּהּ לֵב בַּעְלָהּ וְשָׁלָל לֹא יֶחְסָר
יב. גְּמָלַתְהוּ טוֹב וְלֹא רָע כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיהָ
יג. דָּרְשָׁה צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים וַתַּעַשׂ בְּחֵפֶץ כַּפֶּיהָ
יד. הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר מִמֶּרְחָק תָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ
טו. וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְחֹק לְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ
טז. זָמְמָה שָׂדֶה וַתִּקָּחֵהוּ מִפְּרִי כַפֶּיהָ נָטְעָה כָּרֶם
יז. חָגְרָה בְעוֹז מָתְנֶיהָ וַתְּאַמֵּץ זְרוֹעֹתֶיהָ
יח. טָעֲמָה כִּי טוֹב סַחְרָהּ לֹא יִכְבֶּה בַלַּיְלָה נֵרָהּ
יט. יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה בַכִּישׁוֹר וְכַפֶּיהָ תָּמְכוּ פָלֶךְ
כ. כַּפָּהּ פָּרְשָׂה לֶעָנִי וְיָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה לָאֶבְיוֹן
כא. לֹא תִירָא לְבֵיתָהּ מִשָּׁלֶג כִּי כָל בֵּיתָהּ לָבֻשׁ שָׁנִים
כב. מַרְבַדִּים עָשְׂתָה לָּהּ שֵׁשׁ וְאַרְגָּמָן לְבוּשָׁהּ
כג. נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ בְּשִׁבְתּוֹ עִם זִקְנֵי אָרֶץ
כד. סָדִין עָשְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּר וַחֲגוֹר נָתְנָה לַכְּנַעֲנִי
כה. עֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן
כו. פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה וְתוֹרַת חֶסֶד עַל לְשׁוֹנָהּ
כז. צוֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכוֹת בֵּיתָהּ וְלֶחֶם עַצְלוּת לֹא תֹאכֵל
כח. קָמוּ בָנֶיהָ וַיְאַשְּׁרוּהָ בַּעְלָהּ וַיְהַלְלָהּ
כט. רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָשׂוּ חָיִל וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה
ל. שֶׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶבֶל הַיֹּפִי אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת יְ-הוָה הִיא תִתְהַלָּל
לא. תְּנוּ לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶיהָ וִיהַלְלוּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ
Transliteration
Eishet chayil mi yimtza ve-rachok mi-peninim michrah
Batach bah leiv ba’alah ve-shalal lo yech’sar.
Gemalat’hu tov ve-lo ra kol yemei chayeha.
Dar’shah tzemer u’fishtim va-ta’as be-cheifetz kapeh-ha.
Hay-eta ko-oniyot socheir mi-merchak tavi lachma.
Va-takom be’od laila va-titein teref le-veitah ve-chok le-na’aroteha.
Zamema sadeh va-tika’chei-hu mi-p’ri chapeha nat’a karem.
Chag’rah ve-oz mot’neha va-t’ameitz zero’oteha.
Ta’ama ki tov sachra lo yich’beh va-lailah nei-ra.
Yadeh-ha shilchah va-kishor ve-chapeha tamchu falech.
Kapah par’sa le-ani ve-yadeha shil’chah la-evyon.
Lo tira le-veita mi-shaleg ki chol beita lavush shanim.
Marvadim as’ta la sheish ve-argaman levusha.
Noda ba-she’arim ba’ala be-shivto im ziknei aretz.
Sadin as’ta va-timkor va-chagor nat’na la-kena’ani.
Oz ve-hadar levusha va-tis’chak le-yom acharon.
Piha pat’chah ve-chochma ve-torat chesed al leshona.
Tzofiyah halichot beita ve-lechem atzlut lo tocheil.
Kamu vaneha va-y’ash’ruha ba’ala va-y’hal’elah
Rabot banot asu chayil ve-at alit al kulana.
Sheker ha-chein ve-hevel ha-yofi ishah yirat Adonoy hi tit’halal.
T’nu lah mi-pri yadeha vi-haleluha ba-sh’arim ma’aseha.
Translation
A Woman of Valor, who can find? She is more precious than corals.
Her husband places his trust in her and profits only thereby.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She seeks out wool and flax and cheerfully does the work of her hands.
She is like the trading ships, bringing food from afar.
She gets up while it is still night to provide food for her household, and a fair share for her staff.
She considers a field and purchases it, and plants a vineyard with the fruit of her labors.
She invests herself with strength and makes her arms powerful.
She senses that her trade is profitable; her light does not go out at night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff and her palms hold the spindle.
She opens her hands to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
She has no fear of the snow for her household, for all her household is dressed in fine clothing.
She makes her own bedspreads; her clothing is of fine linen and luxurious cloth.
Her husband is known at the gates, where he sits with the elders of the land.
She makes and sells linens; she supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is robed in strength and dignity, and she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth with wisdom and a lesson of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks after the conduct of her household and never tastes the bread of laziness.
Her children rise up and make her happy; her husband praises her:
«Many women have excelled, but you excell them all!»
Grace is elusive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears God — she shall be praised.
Give her credit for the fruit of her labors, and let her achievements praise her at the gates.