אֵל Almighty,
אָדוֹן עַל כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים. Master over all [created] works,
בָּרוּךְ Blessed is He13God is the source of all blessing, and is blessed even without the blessing of man.
וּמְבֹרָךְ בְּפִי כָּל הַנְּשָׁמָה. and He is blessed by the mouth of every soul.
גָּדְלוֹ וְטוּבוֹ מָלֵא עוֹלָם. His greatness and goodness fill the world,
דַּֽעַת וּתְבוּנָה perception and understanding
סוֹבְ֒בִים הוֹדוֹ: surround His glory.
הַמִּתְגָּאֶה עַל חַיּוֹת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ. He is most high, over the holy chayos,14Chayos are angels which exist eternally, unlike other angels which exist for short periods for specific functions.
וְנֶהְדָּר בְּכָבוֹד עַל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה. and adorned in glory above the chariot;15The “chariot” refers to the retinue of angels at their positions in heaven.—Siddur HaGra
זְכוּת וּמִישׁוֹר לִפְנֵי כִסְאוֹ. merit and uprightness are before His throne,
חֶֽסֶד וְרַחֲמִים מָלֵא כְבוֹדוֹ: kindness and mercy fill His glory.16First the prayer mentions merit and uprightness, the qualities that man must acquire and live by and then it mentions kindness and mercy, the attributes with which God conducts the world of man.—Avudraham
טוֹבִים מְאוֹרוֹת Good are the luminaries
שֶׁבָּרָא אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ. which our God created
יְצָרָם בְּדַֽעַת He formed them with perception,
בְּבִינָה וּבְהַשְׂכֵּל. understanding, and wisdom,
כֹּֽחַ וּגְבוּרָה נָתַן בָּהֶם. strength and power He put into them,
לִהְיוֹת מוֹשְׁ֒לִים to be rulers17See Genesis 1:16.
בְּקֶֽרֶב תֵּבֵל: within the inhabited world.
מְלֵאִים זִיו וּמְפִיקִים נֹֽגַהּ. Full of luster and radiating brightness,
נָאֶה זִיוָם בְּכָל הָעוֹלָם. beautiful is their luster throughout the world,
שְׂמֵחִים בְּצֵאתָם joyous in their rising
וְשָׂשִׂים בְּבוֹאָם. and happy in their setting,
עוֹשִׂים בְּאֵימָה they perform with reverence,
רְצוֹן קוֹנָם: the will of their Possessor.
פְּאֵר וְכָבוֹד נוֹתְ֒נִים לִשְׁמוֹ. Glory and honor, they give to His Name,18The steadfastness of their orbits and the efficiency of their functions testify to God’s creation and providence. Thus they reflect honor and glory to His Name.—Avudraham
צָהֳלָה וְרִנָּה jubilation and joyous song
לְזֵֽכֶר מַלְכוּתוֹ. at the mention of His kingship.
קָרָא לַשֶּֽׁמֶשׁ He called to the sun
וַיִּזְרַח אוֹר. and it shone with light,
רָאָה וְהִתְקִין He saw and fashioned19God saw that mankind would one day worship the sun and therefore created the moon to diminish the influence of the sun as a total force.—Avudraham
צוּרַת הַלְּ֒בָנָה: the form of the moon.
שֶֽׁבַח נוֹתְ֒נִים לוֹ Praise [they] give Him,
כָּל צְבָא מָרוֹם. all hosts on high,
תִּפְאֶֽרֶת וּגְדֻלָּה glory and greatness [are given Him by]
שְׂרָפִים וְאוֹפַנִּים וְחַיּוֹת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ: the serafim, the ofanim and the holy chayos.20Ofanim, chayos and serafim refer to various classes of angels.—Avudraham
לָאֵל To the Almighty,
אֲשֶׁר שָׁבַת מִכָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים. Who rested from all the creation.
בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁ֒בִיעִי הִתְעַלָּה On the Seventh Day, He elevated Himself21God elevated Himself above everything He created during the six days of creation.
וְיָשַׁב עַל כִּסֵּא כְבוֹדוֹ. and sat upon the throne of His honor.
תִּפְאֶֽרֶת עָטָה With glory He enwrapped Himself22This sentence is based on the verse: ה' מָלָךְ גֵאוּת לָבֵשׁ —Adonoy has begun His reign He has clothed Himself with majesty (Psalms 93:1).
לְיוֹם הַמְּ֒נוּחָה. for the day of rest,
עֹֽנֶג קָרָא לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת. a delight, He called the Sabbath Day;
זֶה שֶֽׁבַח שֶׁל יוֹם הַשְּׁ֒בִיעִי this is the praise of the Seventh Day—
שֶׁבּוֹ שָׁבַת אֵל that on it, the Almighty rested
מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ. from all His work.
וְיוֹם הַשְּׁ֒בִיעִי מְשַׁבֵּֽחַ וְאוֹמֵר. The Seventh Day [itself] offers praise and says:
מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת “A Psalm, a song by the Sabbath Day:
טוֹב לְהוֹדוֹת לַיהוֹה: ‘It is good to give thanks to Adonoy.'”23When man is rested from his everyday tasks and freed from everyday problems, he is able to thank God for all His blessings.
לְפִיכָךְ יְפָאֲרוּ וִיבָרְ֒כוּ לָאֵל Therefore glorify and bless the Almighty
כָּל יְצוּרָיו. all beings that He has formed;
שֶֽׁבַח יְקָר וּגְדֻלָּה וְכָבוֹד praise, wsteem, greatness and honor
יִתְּ֒נוּ לָאֵל will they give to the Almighty,
מֶֽלֶךְ King,
יוֹצֵר כֹּל. Creator of all,
הַמַּנְחִיל מְנוּחָה Who apportions rest
לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּקְדֻשָּׁתוֹ to His people Israel, in His holiness
בְּיוֹם שַׁבַּת קֹֽדֶשׁ. on the holy Shabbos Day.
שִׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Your Name, Adonoy, our God
יִתְקַדַּשׁ. will be sanctified,
וְזִכְרְ֒ךָ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ יִתְפָּאַר and Your mention, our King, will be glorified
בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם מִמַּֽעַל in the heavens above
וְעַל הָאָֽרֶץ מִתָּֽחַת. and on the earth below.
תִּתְבָּרֵךְ מוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ Be blessed, our Deliverer
עַל כָּל שֶֽׁבַח מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶֽיךָ. for the praiseworthy work of Your hands
וְעַל מְאוֹרֵי אוֹר and for the light-giving luminaries
שֶׁיָצַֽרְתָּ which You formed
הֵמָּה יְפָאֲרֽוּךָ סֶּֽלָה: —they will glorify You forever.
On Shabbos, continue “Be blessed,” on page 000.
When Yom Tov occurs on weekdays, say:
הַמֵּאִיר לָאָֽרֶץ He illuminates the earth
וְלַדָּרִים עָלֶֽיהָ [and provides light] for those who dwell on it
בְּרַחֲמִים, with compassion;24God causes light to appear in stages, gradually. This is an act of great compassion for if He made it appear all at once, we would be overwhelmed and blinded by its brightness.— Avudraham
וּבְ֒טוּבוֹ and in His goodness
מְחַדֵּשׁ בְּכָל יוֹם תָּמִיד renews every day, continually,25God is not a far-off observer of a mechanism which He created and ignores, but a Living Ruler, Who guides the universe and continually maintains it.
מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית: the work of creation.
מָה־רַבּוּ מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ יְהֹוָה, How many are Your works, Adonoy;
כֻּלָּם בְּחָכְמָה עָשִֽׂיתָ, You made them all with wisdom,
מָלְ֒אָה הָאָֽרֶץ קִנְיָנֶֽךָ: the earth is full of Your possessions.26Lit., Your acquisitions: See Genesis 14:22.
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ הַמְּ֒רוֹמָם לְבַדּוֹ מֵאָז, The King Who alone is exalted from then,27I.e., before Creation, See p. 9: God was King before all creatures were created.
הַמְּ֒שֻׁבָּח וְהַמְּ֒פֹאָר Who is praised and glorified
וְהַמִּתְנַשֵּׂא and uplifted,
מִימוֹת עוֹלָם: from the beginning of time.28I.e., after Creation. Ever since Creation, God has been praised and glorified by His creatures.
אֱלֹהֵי עוֹלָם Eternal God,
בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים in Your abundant mercy,
רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ have compassion on us,
אֲדוֹן עֻזֵּֽנוּ Master, Who is our strength,
צוּר מִשְׂגַּבֵּֽנוּ Rock, Who is our stronghold
מָגֵן יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ Shield, of our deliverance,
מִשְׂגָּב בַּעֲדֵֽנוּ: [Be] a stronghold for us.
אֵל בָּרוּךְ גְּדוֹל דֵּעָה, The blessed Almighty, great in knowledge,
הֵכִין וּפָעַל זָהֳרֵי חַמָּה, prepared and made the rays of the sun.
טוֹב יָצַר [The] Good [One] created [everything]
כָּבוֹד לִשְׁ֒מוֹ, for the glory of His Name:29See Isaiah 43:7: “All that is called by My Name, I have created for My glory.”—Avudraham
מְאוֹרוֹת נָתַן the luminaries He set
סְבִיבוֹת עֻזּוֹ, around His strength (His throne).
פִּנּוֹת צְבָאָיו קְדוֹשִׁים The chiefs of His hosts are holy beings,30“Holy beings” are angels. In Hebrew the word for angels means messenger, and includes all the instruments of Divine purpose, whether in human form, or in the forces of nature.—Kuzari
רוֹמְ֒מֵי שַׁדַּי, the exalters of Shadai31A name of God (Genesis 17:1; 35:11; 43:14 etc.) which refers to His setting boundaries and limits throughout creation.
תָּמִיד מְסַפְּ֒רִים continually recount
כְּבוֹד אֵל the glory of the Almighty32The Heavenly throne is thus conceived of as surrounded by angels and all the adoring heavenly bodies.—See Isaiah 6:12
וּקְ֒דֻשָּׁתוֹ: and His holiness.
תִּתְבָּרֵךְ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Be Blessed, Adonoy, our God,
בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם מִמַּֽעַל in the heavens above
וְעַל הַאָֽרֶץ מִתָּֽחַת and on earth below
עַל כָּל שֶֽׁבַח מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶֽיךָ for the excellent works of Your hands,
וְעַל מְאֽוֹרֵי אוֹר and for the light-giving luminaries
שֶׁיָצַרְתָּ which You formed;
הֵֽמָּה יְפָאֲרֽוּךָ סֶּֽלָה: they will glorify You forever.33Those of His creatures capable of praising Him do so. The rest are evidence of His astonishing wisdom and arouse the others to praise Him.
תִּתְבָּרֵךְ לָנֶצַח צוּרֵֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ Be blessed eternally our Former,34Some render צוּרֵנוּ “our Rock.” The Gaon of Vilna, however, maintains that it refers to God as our Creator, thus describing Him in the tri-epochal aspect of His Unity: past, present, and future. He was our Creator, He is our King, and He will be our Redeemer. our King,
וְגוֹאֲלֵֽנוּ, בּוֹרֵא קְדוֹשִׁים and our Redeemer—Creator of holy beings.35These are the Jewish People, who are sanctified in body and soul. The word Creator implies a creation of real substance—the Jewish People rather than angels.—Gaon of Vilna
יִשְׁתַּבַּח שִׁמְ֒ךָ לָעַד מַלְכֵּֽנוּ, Praised be Your Name forever, our King,
יוֹצֵר מְשָׁרְתִים, Who forms ministering angels;
וַאֲשֶׁר מְשָׁרְתָיו and Whose ministering angels
כֻּלָּם עוֹמְ֒דִים בְּרוּם עוֹלָם all stand at the height of the Universe,
וּמַשְׁמִיעִים בְּיִרְאָה יַֽחַד בְּקוֹל and proclaim with reverence, in unison aloud
דִּבְ֒רֵי אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים the words of the living God,
וּמֶֽלֶךְ עוֹלָם: King of the Universe.
כֻּלָם אֲהוּבִים All of them are beloved,36Beloved—there is no envy, jealousy or rivalry among them. Pure—they have no selfish or ulterior motives; they serve God with all their being.—Siddur HaGra
כֻּלָּם בְּרוּרִים all of them are pure,
כֻּלָּם גִּבּוֹרִים all of them are mighty;
כֻּלָּם קְדוֹשִׁים all are holy
וְכֻלָּם עֹשִׂים and all of them perform
בְּאֵימָה וּבְ֒יִרְאָה with awe and reverence
רְצוֹן קוֹנָם: the will of their Possessor.
❖וְכֻלָּם פּוֹתְ֒חִים אֶת פִּיהֶם And they all open their mouths
בִּקְ֒דֻשָּׁה וּבְ֒טָהֳרָה in holiness and purity,
בְּשִׁירָה וּבְ֒זִמְרָה with song and music,
וּמְ֒בָרְכִין וּמְ֒שַׁבְּ֒חִין וּמְ֒פָאֲרִין and they bless, and praise, and glorify,
וּמַעֲרִיצִין וּמַקְדִּישִׁין and revere, and sanctify,
וּמַמְלִיכִין: and proclaim the sovereignty of—
אֶת שֵׁם הָאֵל הַמֶּֽלֶךְ the Name of the Almighty, the King,
הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא the Great, the Mighty, the awesome One;
קָדוֹשׁ הוּא: holy37Despite the attributes we use to describe Him, He remains holy—beyond our conception. is He.
וְכֻלָּם מְקַבְּ֒לִים עֲלֵיהֶם And they all take upon themselves
עֹל מַלְ֒כוּת שָׁמַֽיִם the yoke38The yoke of Divine Sovereignty is borne willingly and joyfully by each creature as an emblem of his free service to God.—S.R. Hirsch of Divine sovereignty
זֶה מִזֶּה, one from the other,
וְנוֹתְ֒נִים בְּאַהֲבָה רְשׁוּת זֶה לָזֶה and lovingly give leave to one another39They take care not to precede one another in their praise of God. On the contrary, each says to the other, “You begin, because you are greater and more worthy than I.”—Avos of R’ Nosson
לְהַקְדִּישׁ לְיוֹצְ֒רָם to sanctify their Former
בְּנַֽחַת רֽוּחַ in a spirit of serenity
בְּשָׂפָה בְרוּרָה וּבִנְ֒עִימָה, with clear speech and pleasantness,40The clear speech of the angels is the holy tongue (pure Hebrew).—Yaavetz
קְדֻשָּׁה כֻּלָּם כְּאֶחָד עוֹנִים all exclaimKedushah in unison,
בְּאֵימָה with awe,
וְאוֹמְ֒רִים בְּיִרְאָה and reverently exclaim:
קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ “Holy, holy, holy
יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת. is Adonoy of Hosts,
מְלֹא כָל־הָאָֽרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ: the fullness of all the earth is His glory.”41Isaiah 6:3. Targum Yonoson paraphrases this verse: “Holy [is God] in the highest heights of heaven, the abode of His Divine Presence; holy upon earth, the work of His almighty power; holy [is He] forever and for all eternity.” The Talmud, (Maseches Chulin 91b) refers to this verse as the “Sanctification of the Angels.” According to Avudraham and Yaavetz, this Kedushah has been inserted here to refute those who maintain that God relinquished His control over the heavenly bodies, and they are now able to function independently. We are therefore told that all the heavenly hosts proclaim God’s sanctification and dominion over all the universe.
וְהָאוֹפַנִּים וְחַיּוֹת הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ And the Ofanim42Ofanim, Chayos haKodash, and Serafim are various classes of Angels. Ofanim denotes animated wheels as conceived in association with the Heavenly throne. (Avudraham); Chayos are those angels who exist eternally (Yaavetz; some angels exist only for short times for specific functions.) Serafim indicate “beings of fire.” and the holy Chayos,
בְּרַֽעַשׁ גָּדוֹל מִתְנַשְּׂ֒אִים with a mighty sound rise
לְעֻמַּת שְׂרָפִים toward the Serafim.
לְעֻמָּתָם מְשַׁבְּ֒חִים וְאוֹמְ֒רִים: Facing them, they offer praise and say,
בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד־יְהֹוָה “Blessed is the glory of Adonoy
מִמְּ֒קוֹמוֹ: from His place.”43Ezekiel 3:12. According to the Kuzari, God’s glory is a euphemism for God Himself. Thus the verse means, “Blessed is Adonoy from His place,” conveying this concept: God is more blessed (i.e., greater) than His place; He is not confined to any place. Another view set forth in the Kuzari is that “God’s glory” includes the angels, His throne, His chariot, the firmament, and the spheres. These are called God’s glory similar to a king’s retinue which is his royal splendor.
לָאֵל בָּרוּךְ To the Blessed Almighty,
נְעִימוֹת יִתֵּֽנוּ, they44The angels. offer pleasant melodies;
לַמֶּֽלֶךְ אֵל to the King, the Almighty,
חַי וְקַיָּם [Who is] living and enduring,
זְמִירוֹת יֹאמֵֽרוּ they utter hymns
וְתִשְׁבָּחוֹת יַשְׁמִֽיעוּ, and make praises heard.
כִּי הוּא לְבַדּוֹ מָרוֹם וְקָדוֹשׁ For He alone, exalted and holy
פּוֹעֵל גְּבוּרוֹת is the Performer of mighty deeds,
עֹשֶׂה חֲדָשׁוֹת Maker of new things;
בַּֽעַל מִלְחָמוֹת Master of battles,
זוֹרֵֽעַ צְדָקוֹת Sower of acts of righteousness,45Rabbi Pinchos ben Yair was given two measures of barley for safekeeping. The owner forgot about it for a number of years. Rabbi Pinchos ben Yair planted the barley seed, and each year replanted the previous year’s harvest until it grew to be a substantial crop. After seven years, the owner returned to claim his two measures of barley and Rabbi Pinchos told him, “Come I will show you the great fortune you have accumulated.” God does the same with the good and righteous deeds of man. He sows each righteous deed, and when the person is ready to receive his reward, God returns the original righteous investment plus all the accumulated dividends. Midrash Rabba, Deuteronomy 3:6
מַצְמִֽיחַ יְשׁוּעוֹת Causer of deliverance to sprout forth;
בּוֹרֵא רְפוּאוֹת Creator of cures.
נוֹרָא תְהִלּוֹת אֲדוֹן הַנִּפְלָאוֹת: Awesome in praise, Master of wonders,
הַמְ֒חַדֵּשׁ בְּטוּבוֹ He renews in His goodness,
בְּכָל יוֹם תָּמִיד each day, continuously,46Since the blessing began with the praise of God as the Former of light Who continually renews the creation, it concludes on the same note.
מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית: the work of creation,
כָּאָמוּר as it is said: “[Give thanks to Him]
לְעֹשֵׂה אוֹרִים גְּדֹלִים Who makes the great luminaries,”
כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: for His kindness is everlasting.”47Psalms 136:7.
(וְהִתְקִין מְאוֹרוֹת (and He fashioned the luminaries,
מְשַׂמֵּֽחַ עוֹלָמוֹ אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא.) bringing joy to the world He created)
❖אוֹר חָדָשׁ עַל צִיּוֹן תָּאִיר Shine a new light upon Zion,48We pray that we will be worthy of enjoying the original light of creation, which God put aside for the righteous in the future world.—Yaavetz
וְנִזְכֶּה כֻלָּֽנוּ בִּמְ֒הֵרָה and may we all soon be privileged
לְאוֹרוֹ: to [enjoy] its brightness.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
יוֹצֵר הַמְּ֒אוֹרוֹת: Former of the luminaries.49When reciting this blessing, bear in mind that even though the heavenly spheres appear immense to us and we attach much importance to them because of the vital functions they perform, in the eyes of their Creator they are no greater than worms. On the contrary, His wisdom and providence are more acutely recognized in an ant or bee because, in spite of their minuteness, they are endowed with a complex of faculties and organs.—Kuzari
In the second of the blessings that precede Shema we praise God for His goodness in giving us His Torah, and pray for His help in the study of Torah. None of our petitions for the material goods of life approaches the fervor of this prayer for knowledge of the Torah and steadfastness in obeying it.
אַהֲבַת עוֹלָם אֲהַבְתָּֽנוּ [With] everlasting love You have loved us50The Kuzari writes, “When reciting the blessing ‘Unbounded Love’ אַהֲבָה רַבָּה , one should bear in mind that God’s Divine influence is especially directed at the Jewish People who receive it as naturally as a mirror receives rays of light. He should also bear in mind that the Torah is the expression of God’s will and through it He establishes His dominion on earth as in heaven. Whenever an individual or a community attains a high degree of spiritual purity, they become worthy of receiving the Divine light to guide their destiny in a miraculous manner far removed from the ordinary course of events which affect the world. This special relationship with the Creator is called love.
יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Adonoy, our God;
חֶמְלָה גְדוֹלָה וִיתֵרָה [With] great and abundant pity51God bestowed His great and abundant pity on us after we sinned in making the golden calf. He not only pardoned us, but gave us the Second Tablets and ordained the construction of the Tabernacle (Mishkan) for His Divine Presence to dwell among us.—Siach Yitzchok
חָמַֽלְתָּ עָלֵֽינוּ: have You pitied us.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ Our Father, our King!
בַּעֲבוּר שִׁמְ֒ךָ הַגָּדוֹל for the sake of your great Name
וּבַעֲבוּר אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ and for the sake of our forefathers
שֶׁבָּטְ֒חוּ בְךָ who trusted in You,
וַתְּ֒לַמְּ֒דֵם חֻקֵּי חַיִּים and whom You taught statutes of life,
לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְ֒ךָ carry out your will
בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם with a perfect heart,
כֵּן תְּחָנֵּֽנוּ וּתְ֒לַמְּ֒דֵֽנוּ: so too, be gracious to us and teach us.
אָבִֽינוּ אָב הָרַחֲמָן Our Father, merciful Father,
הַמְ֒רַחֵם Who acts with compassion
רַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ have compassion on us
וְתֵן בְּלִבֵּֽנוּ בִּינָה and put into our hearts to understand,
לְהָבִין to comprehend,
וּלְ֒הַשְׂכִּיל and to be intellectually creative,
לִשְׁמֹֽעַ לִלְמוֹד וּלְ֒לַמֵּד to listen, to learn, and to teach,
לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת וּלְ֒קַיֵּם to preserve, to practice, and to fulfill52We preserve the Torah by not forgetting its teachings; we practice the commandments and we fulfill them by making them permanent parts of our lives.—Siach Yitzchok
אֶת כָּל דִּבְ֒רֵי תַלְמוּד תּוֹרָתֶֽךָ all the words of instruction in Your Torah
בְּאַהֲבָה: with love.
וְהָאֵר עֵינֵֽינוּ בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ And enlighten our eyes in Your Torah,
וְדַבֵּק לִבֵּֽנוּ and cause our hearts to hold fast
בְּמִצְוֹתֶֽיךָ to Your commandments,
וְיַחֵד לְבָבֵֽנוּ and unify53Make us single-hearted and undivided in our love and reverence of Your Name. Keep us from distraction of personal thoughts and selfish motives.—Siach Yitzchok our hearts
לְאַהֲבָה וּלְ֒יִרְאָה אֶת שְׁמֶֽךָ, to love and fear Your Name;
לְמַֽעַן לֹא נֵבוֹשׁ and may we not be subject to shame,54When one has to receive a favor that is completely undeserved, he feels a sense of shame. We therefore pray to God, that our redemption will not be “handed out” to us without merit and cause us to be ashamed. We proclaim that since we “trusted in His Name” and accepted the bitterness of our exile our deliverance is not totally undeserved.—Siach Yitzchok
וְלֹא נִכָּלֵם וְלֹא נִכָּשֵׁל disgrace or stumbling
לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד, forever
כִּי בְשֵׁם קָדְ֒שְׁךָ for in Your holy Name—
הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא great, mighty and awesome—
בָּטָֽחְנוּ have we trusted;
נָגִֽילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ: may we exult and rejoice in Your deliverance.
וְרַחֲמֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֶלֹהֵֽינוּ And may Your mercy Adonoy our God,
וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים and Your abundant kindness
אַל יַעַזְבֽוּנוּ נֶֽצַח סֶֽלָה וָעֶד: never forsake us.
מַהֵר וְהָבֵא עָלֵֽינוּ Hasten and bring upon us
בְּרָכָה וְשָׁלוֹם מְהֵרָה blessing and peace quickly
מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְ֒פוֹת הָאָֽרֶץ from the four corners of the earth
וּשְׁ֒בוֹר עוֹל הַגּוֹיִם break the yoke of the nations
מֵעַל צַוָּארֵֽנוּ from our neck
וְתוֹלִיכֵֽנוּ מְהֵרָה and speedily lead us
קוֹמְ֒מִיּוּת לְאַרְצֵֽנוּ: upright55May we return from our exile with our heads held high, not in meekness.—Siach Yitzchok to our land.
כִּי אֵל Because, You are the Almighty,
פּוֹעֵל יְשׁוּעוֹת אָֽתָּה Who performs acts of deliverance,56Even if we do not deserve to be saved in our own merit, save us anyhow because You perform acts of deliverance.
וּבָֽנוּ בָחַֽרְתָּ and You have chosen us57At the moment God gave the Torah to the Jews at Sinai, we became His chosen people and were brought close to Him for eternity.—Siach Yitzchok
מִכָּל עַם וְלָשׁוֹן from among all peoples and tongues,
❖וְקֵרַבְתָּֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ and You have brought us near our king
לְשִׁמְ֒ךָ הַגָּדוֹל סֶֽלָה בֶּאֱמֶת to Your great Name, forever in truth;
בְּאַהֲבָה לְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ with love, that we may give thanks58These final words complete the prayer begun earlier: “Bring us in peace, and lead us upright to our land, so that we may give thanks to You, and proclaim Your Oneness, with love.—Siach Yitzchok to You,
וּלְיַחֶדְ֒ךָ בְּאַהֲבָה and proclaim Your Oneness, with love.
וּלְ֒אַהֲבָה אֶת שְׁמֶֽךָ: and love Your Name.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
הַבּוֹחֵר בְּעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבָה: Who chooses His people Israel with love.