He who utters poetry and song in a pleasant voice, and composes piyut [liturgical songs] – appropriately – in honor of the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, who has accomplished miracles and wonders for us, gets to see the countenance of the Redeeming King and Elijah, especially if he sings at his table… and what our rabbis of blessed memory said is known: [the word] zemirot [songs of praise] if from the linguistic form of "pruning", as in "pruning tyrants", so that he may prune all klipot [spiritual obstacles] and sabotage evil angels, and the advocates shall arise, just as when the people of Israel gained passage through the sea to dry land by virtue of the poetry and song they uttered, as it is said "The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation".