A calm soul trusts. Return to that restful state. Alert, ready, confident.
Shuvi Nafshi
Lyrics
שׁוּבִי נַפְשִׁי
לִמְנוּחָיְכִי
כִּי־ה׳
גָּמַל עָלָיְכִי׃
[Psalms 116:7]
1, 2, 3.
Shuvi, nafshi,
Lim-nuḥai-khi,
Ki Hashem
Gamal alai-khi.
4.
My soul, return,
To your quiet rest,
My mind composed, at ease,
Alert and calm,
The Holy One,
Providing all you need.
5, 6.
My soul, return,
Stand steady and calm,
Confident, ready, and sure.
Balancing,
Focusing,
Ride each wave, secure.
7.
Shuvi, nafshi,
Lim-nuḥai-khi,
Ki Hashem
Gamal alai-khi.
Translation of Psalm 116:7
Return, my soul, to your resting place,
For Hashem takes care of you.
Reflections on this Song
Menuḥat hanefesh, equanimity, connotes a soul that is calm and steady within, even when the world outside is stormy. It does not mean tuning out the turbulence, but rather remaining attentive, balanced, and in control—in the metaphor of Alan Morinis, be a surfer, riding the wave in the direction you choose.
When I am disturbed by another person’s words or behavior, do I regain my balance quickly? Or does it throw me for a loop? Am I already in touch with the inner resources I need to recover? Do I reach out for guidance to the One Above, or to a human partner? Do I steady myself using self-talk, speaking to my soul?
This song is based on Psalm 116, verse 7. The verse speaks directly to my soul, “nafshi,” encouraging my soul to return her calm resting state, menuḥat hanefesh.
During a rough patch we, too, can explicitly address our soul, reminding her that she already has a calm resting state. Remembering that we can return to that calm takes us a long way toward regaining equilibrium, equanimity, and inner peace. Remembering that our soul has divine care can help us get some distance from the disturbance, and a calmer perspective on the situation.
Teshuvah—Return
Counseling my soul to return is also a fitting chant for the season of teshuvah [return] that leads us to the High Holy Days. Sometimes our frazzled striving makes us forget that our soul has a reserved place to rest within the Soul of the Universe; a place where it is held and embraced, calmed and nurtured; a place where it can breathe, take stock, and repair any bruises. Chanting the Hebrew verse of this song can remind us to make time to visit that place of spiritual rest, and draw us forward along our journey of return.
The goal of return is to be close again with our Beloved. We both long for that closeness. Today, take one small step in that direction.
Middot
Calm Soul, Equanimity מנוּחת הנפש Menucḥat Hanefesh
Trust בטחוֹן Bitaḥon
Enoughness, Simplicity הסתפקוּת Histapkut
Peace שלום Shalom
Return תשוּבה Teshuvah
