This blessing introduces the Pesukei Dezimrah. It was mentioned by Rabbi Yitzchak Alfasi (Rif) over 800 years ago in his commentary to Maseches Berachos 32. The Taz (Orach Chaim 51:1) states that this prayer was instituted by the “Men of the Great Assembly.” The blessing contains eighty-seven words suggesting the numerical value of פָּז poz, refined gold.
הֲרֵינִי מְזַמֵּן אֶת פִּי לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל וּלְשַׁבֵּחַ אֶת בּוֹרְאִי לְשֵׁם יִחוּד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּהּ עַל יְדֵי הַהוּא טָמִיר וְנֶעְלָם בְּשֵׁם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל:
בָּרוּךְ שֶׁאָמַר Blessed is He Who spoke,
וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם, and the world came into being,
בָּרוּךְ הוּא, blessed is He;
בָּרוּךְ עֹשֶׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, blessed is He Who maintains the creation;
בָּרוּךְ אוֹמֵר וְעוֹשֶׂה, blessed is He Who says and does;6Hashem’s saying and doing are synonymous and simultaneous as it is said, “By the word of Hashem the heavens were made” (Tehillim 33:6).—Etz Yosef
בָּרוּךְ גּוֹזֵר וּמְקַיֵּם, blessed is He Who decrees and fulfills;7“Says and does” refers to those things that are not lasting and must be renewed whereas, “He decrees and fulfills,” refers to those things that have קִיוּם, and last forever.—Tzelosa d’Avraham
בָּרוּךְ מְרַחֵם blessed is He Who has compassion
עַל הָאָֽרֶץ, on the earth;
בָּרוּךְ מְרַחֵם blessed is He Who has compassion
עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת, on the creatures;8Not only is Hashem’s compassionate providence concerned with the earth and enduring things, but His compassion and providence extend even to those creatures which are destined to perish.—Avudraham
בָּרוּךְ מְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר טוֹב blessed is He Who rewards well
לִירֵאָיו, those who fear Him,
בָּרוּךְ חַי לָעַד blessed is He Who lives forever
וְקַיָּם לָנֶֽצַח, and exists eternally;
בָּרוּךְ פּוֹדֶה וּמַצִּיל, blessed is He Who redeems and saves9Hashem redeems those who are in captivity and saves others from being taken in captivity.
בָּרוּךְ שְׁמוֹ: blessed is His Name.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם our God, King of the Universe,
הָאֵל הָאָב הָרַחֲמָן the Almighty, the merciful Father,
הַמְּהֻלָּל בְּפֶה עַמּוֹ Who is verbally extolled by His people,
מְשֻׁבָּח וּמְפֹאָר praised and glorified
בִּלְשׁוֹן חֲסִידָיו by the tongue of His pious ones,
וַעֲבָדָיו and His servants,
וּבְשִׁירֵי דָוִד עַבְדֶּֽךָ, and through the songs of Dovid Your servant,
נְהַלֶּלְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ we will extoll You, Adonoy our God,
בִּשְׁבָחוֹת וּבִזְמִירוֹת with praises and psalms;
נְגַדֶּלְךָ וּנְשַׁבֵּחֲךָ וּנְפָאֶרְךָ we will exalt, praise, and glorify You;
וְנַזְכִּיר שִׁמְךָ we will mention Your Name,
וְנַמְלִיכְךָ and proclaim You
מַלְכֵּֽנוּ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, our King, our God.
חזן: יָחִיד, חֵי הָעוֹלָמִים, מֶֽלֶךְ Unique One, Life of the worlds, King,
מְשֻׁבָּח וּמְפֹאָר עֲדֵי עַד praised and glorified forever
שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל: is His great Name.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
מֶֽלֶךְ מְהֻלָּל בַּתִּשְׁבָּחוֹת: King, Who is extolled with praises.