Ma Tovu (Biblical Hebrew: מַה טֹּבוּ, lit. 'How lovely') is a prayer recited by religious Jews expressing reverence to entering synagogues and other places of worship in Judaism.
The prayer begins with Numbers 24:5, which records Balaam, sent to curse the Israelites, as instead being overcome with awe at God and the Israelites' worship. Its first line is a quote of Balaam's blessing and is thus the only prayer commonly used in Jewish prayer services that was written by a 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. In this vein is the prayer recited by Jews at the beginning of the morning prayers when one would theoretically have just entered the synagogue.
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Hebrew מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל |
Romanization Ma tovu ohalekha Ya'akov, mishk'notekha Yisra'el. |
English translation How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel! |
In modern times various composers have developed musical settings for Ma Tovu including: