View source for Ma Tovu

{{short description|Jewish prayer}}
'''Ma Tovu''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] for "O How Good" or "How Goodly") is a [[prayer]] in [[Judaism]], expressing reverence and awe for [[synagogue]]s and other [[places of worship]].

The prayer begins with {{bibleverse||Numbers|24:5|HE}}, 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 [[Gentile|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 ({{bibleverse||Psalms|5:8|HE}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Psalms|26:8|HE}}; {{bibleverse-nb||Psalms|95:6|HE}}; and {{bibleverse-nb||Psalms|69:14|HE}}). In this vein is the prayer recited by [[Jews]] upon entering the synagogue; in the Western Ashkenzic rite, it is usually sung before beginning [[Maariv]] on Festivals, especially the second night of Yom Tov.

==Text==
{{Verse transliteration-translation|lang=he|rtl=yes
|originalHeading = Hebrew|
מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל
ואני ברב חסדך, אבוא ביתך
אשתחווה אל היכל קדשך, ביראתך
ה' אהבתי מעון ביתך ומקום משכן כבודך 
ואני אשתחווה ואכרעה אברכה לפני ה' עשי
ואני תפילתי לך ה' את רצון
אלוקים ברב חסדך ענני באמת ישעך
|transliterationHeading =Romanization
|Ma tovu ohalekha Ya'akov, mishk'notekha Yisra'el.
Va'ani b'rov hasd'kha, avo veytekha,
eshtahaveh el heikhal kodsh'kha b'yir'atekha.
Adonai, ahavti m'on beitekha um'kom mishkan k'vodekha.
Va'ani eshtakhaveh ve'ekhra'ah, avar'kha lifnei Adonai osi.
Va'ani t'filati l'kha Adonai et ratzon,
Elohim b'rov hasdekha aneini be'emet yish'ekha.
|translationHeading = English translation
|How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel!
As for me, through Your abundant grace,
I enter your house to worship with awe in Your sacred place.
O Lord, I love the House where you dwell, and the place where your glory tabernacles.
I shall prostrate myself and bow; I shall kneel before the Lord my Maker.
To You, Eternal One, goes my prayer: may this be a time of your favor.
In Your abundant love, O God, answer me with the Truth of Your salvation.}}

==Musical settings==
In modern times various composers have developed musical settings for Ma Tovu including:

* [[Samuel Adler (composer)|Samuel Adler]]<ref>[http://www.samuelhadler.com/choral ''Samuel Adler - Works'' Ma Tovu on samuelhadler.com]</ref>
* [[Robert Strassburg]] (1993)<ref>{{cite web|title=Strassburg, Robert|url=https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n93048679/|access-date=10 November 2022|publisher=WorldCat}}</ref>
*[[Moshav (band)|Moshav Band]]<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ErmkZtmERc&list=OLAK5uy_ngM-hyQH_ebk32Rmu4BGpQm305fZfMO2k Ma Tovu (2018)]</ref>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://zemirotdatabase.org/view_song.php?id=198 Recordings of tunes to Ma Tovu on the Zemirot Database]
*[http://www.learnhebrewpod.com/jewish-prayers/Ma_Tovu/reading Recordings of Ma Tovu spoken in different speeds]

{{Jewish prayers}}

[[Category:Shacharit]]
[[Category:Jewish prayer and ritual texts]]
[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases in Jewish prayers and blessings]]