Va'amartem Zevach Pesach
Iraqi Passover Seder Song (recorded by Divahn)
Rabbi Aharon Cohen, Medieval Piyyut, c. 11th–12th Century CE, Iraqi Passover Seder song.
Recording by Divahn from their 2002 self titled album.
הֲרִימוּ קוֹל שִׁירִים שִׂמְחוּ בְּלֵיל שִׁמּוּרִים
עַל מַצּוֹת וּמְרוֹרִים אִכְלוּ וּשְׁתוּ יֵנַי
‘וַאֲמַרְתֶּם זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַה
נִסִּי אֵל זָכַרְתִּי וַחֲסָדָיו סִפַּרְתִּי
.’אָתָּא יָדַעְתִּי כִּי גָדַל ה’ — וַאֲמַרְתֶּם זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַה
כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם מְנַשֶּׁה וְאֶפְרָיִם
.’יָצְאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם כֹּל צִבְאוֹת ה’ — וַאֲמַרְתֶּם זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַה
נִפְלָאִים מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וַעֲצוּמִים נִסֶּיךָ
‘יֹאמְרוּ כֹל חוֹסֶיךָ טוֹב לַחֲסוֹת בַּה’ — וַאֲמַרְתֶּם זֶבַח פֶּסַח הוּא לַה
Herimú kol shirim, simchú b’leil shimurim
Al matzot oomurim, ichlu ooshtu yenai
Va’amartem zevach pesach hu l’Adonai
Nisi el zacharti, vachasadav siparti
Ata yadati, ki gadal Adonai — Va’amartem zevach pesach hu l’Adonai
Kechochevai hashamayim, Menasheh Ve’Efrayim
Yatzu mimitzrayim, kol tz’iv’ot Adonai — Va’amartem zevach pesach hu l’Adonai
Nifla’im ma’asecha, va’atzumim nisecha
Yomru kol chosecha, tov lachasot ba’Adonai — Va’amartem zevach pesach hu l’Adonai
Translation:
Lift up your voices in song on Passover night, as you eat matzah, maror, and wine.
And you shall say: This is a Passover sacrifice to Adonai.
I have remembered God’s miracles and told of His kindness. Now I know that God is Great.
And you shall say: This is a Passover sacrifice to Adonai.
Like the stars of the Heavens, Menasheh and Efraim went out of Egypt — the army of God.
And you shall say: This is a Passover sacrifice to Adonai.
Your deeds are wondrous, oh God. It is good to trust in God.
And you shall say: This is a Passover sacrifice to Adonai.
Galeet Dardashti learned this song from Ramón Tasat, who learned it from George Mordecai.