The Mishna, ( Maseches Pesachim 117b) refers to the following prayer as בִּרְכַּת הַשִּׁיר , the blessing of song. Some commentaries suggest that it is so named because it forms a lengthy song that concludes with the blessing of יִשְׁתַּבַּח on page 000. On weekdays, when there is not sufficient time to concentrate adequately on our prayers, we merely recite the concluding blessing of יִשְׁתַּבַּח , but on Sabbaths and Festivals we recite the prayer in its entirety.
נִשְׁמַת כָּל חַי The soul of every living thing
תְּבָרֵךְ אֶת שִׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ. shall bless Your Name, Adonoy, our God;
וְרֽוּחַ כָּל בָּשָׂר and the spirit of all flesh
תְּפָאֵר וּתְרוֹמֵם shall glorify and exalt
זִכְרְ֒ךָ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ תָּמִיד. Your mention, our King, continually.
מִן הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעוֹלָם From world to world,108 108 See note 1 on תפילה למשה , page 000.
אַתָּה אֵל. You are Almighty;
וּמִבַּלְעָדֶֽיךָ and besides You
אֵין לָנוּ מֶֽלֶךְ גּוֹאֵל וּמוֹשִֽׁיעַ. we have no king, redeemer, or deliverer,
פּוֹדֶה וּמַצִּיל וּמְפַרְנֵס [who] liberates, rescues, maintains
וְעוֹנֶה וּמְרַחֵם and responds, and is compassionate
בְּכָל עֵת צָרָה וְצוּקָה. in all times of trouble and distress.
אֵין לָנוּ מֶֽלֶךְ עוֹזֵר וְסוֹמֵך We have no king, helper, supporter
אֶלָּא אָֽתָּה. but You.
אֱלֹהֵי הָרִאשׁוֹנִים וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִים. God of the first and last [generations],
אֱלֽוֹהַּ כָּל בְּרִיּוֹת. God of all created things,
אֲדוֹן כָּל תּוֹלָדוֹת. Master of all begotten things,109 109 Etz Yosef assumes that תּוֹלָדוֹת refers to events that occur in time. [See Proverbs 27:1, כִּי לֹא תֵדַע מַה יֻלַּד יוֹם , for you don’t know what a day may bring forth.] Thus God is Master of all events. Iyun Tefiloh says that בְּרִיוֹת , created beings, refers to everything God created during the six days of creation, whereas תּוֹלָדוֹת refers to those things that come forth, i.e., were “born” from the original created things. Thus He is God of all created things and Master of all begotten things even though they appear as products of nature.
הַמְּ֒הֻלָּל בְּרֹב הַתִּשְׁבָּחוֹת. Who is extolled with a multitude of praises,
הַמְ֒נַהֵג עוֹלָמוֹ בְּחֶֽסֶד Who conducts His world with kindliness
וּבְרִיּוֹתָיו בְּרַחֲמִים. and His creatures with compassion.
וַיהוֹה הִנֵּה לֹא יָנוּם וְלֹא יִישָׁן. Behold, Adonoy neither slumbers nor sleeps.
הַמְּ֒עוֹרֵר יְשֵׁנִים. arouses those who sleep
וְהַמֵּקִיץ נִרְדָּמִים. and awakens those who slumber,
מְחַיֵּה מֵתִים. Resurrector of the dead,
וְרוֹפֵא חוֹלִים. and Healer of the sick,
פּוֹקֵחַ עִוְרִים. Who gives sight to the blind,
וְהַמֵּשִֽׂיחַ אִלְּ֒מִים. and He gives speech to the mute,
וְהַמַּתִּיר אֲסוּרִים. and releases the imprisoned.
וְהַסּוֹמֵךְ נוֹפְ֒לִים. He supports those who have fallen
וְהַזּוֹקֵף כְּפוּפִים and straightens the bent
וְהַמְ֒פַעֲנֵחַ נֶעְלָמִים. and uncovers that which is concealed.
לְךָ לְבַדְּ֒ךָ אֲנַֽחְנוּ מוֹדִים. To You alone we give thanks.
אִלּוּ פִֽינוּ מָלֵא שִׁירָה Even if our mouths were filled with song
כַּיָּם. like the sea,110Just like the sea is filled with water.
וּלְשׁוֹנֵֽנוּ רִנָּה and our tongues with exultation
כַּהֲמוֹן גַּלָּיו. like the roaring of its waves,
וְשִׂפְתוֹתֵֽינוּ שֶֽׁבַח and our lips with praise
כְּמֶרְחֲבֵי רָקִֽיעַ. like the breadth of the firmament,
וְעֵינֵֽינוּ מְאִירוֹת and our eyes were radiant
כַּשֶּֽׁמֶשׁ וְכַיָּרֵֽחַ. like the sun and the moon,
וְיָדֵֽינוּ פְרוּשׂוֹת and our hands outspread
כְּנִשְׁרֵי שָׁמָֽיִם. like [the] eagles of the sky,
וְרַגְלֵֽינוּ קַלּוֹת כָּאַיָּלוֹת. and our feet light as the deer—
אֵין אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַסְפִּיקִים we would never sufficiently
לְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ thank You, Adonoy, our God
וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ. and God of our fathers,
וּלְבָרֵךְ אֶת שְׁמֶֽךָ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ and bless Your Name Our King
עַל אַחַת מֵאָֽלֶף for even one thousandth
אֶֽלֶף אַלְפֵי אֲלָפִים of the billions
וְרִבֵּי רְבָבוֹת פְּעָמִים. and trillions
הַטּוֹבוֹת נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת of favors, miracles and wonders
שֶׁעָשִֽׂיתָ עִם אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ which You did for our fathers
וְעִמָּֽנוּ. and for us:
מִמִּצְרַֽיִם גְּאַלְתָּֽנוּ from Egypt You redeemed us,
יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ. Adonoy, our God;
וּמִבֵּית עֲבָדִים פְּדִיתָֽנוּ. from the house of bondage, You liberated us;
בְּרָעָב זַנְתָּֽנוּ. in famine You nourished us,
וּבְשָׂבָע כִּלְכַּלְתָּֽנוּ. and in [times of] plenty, You fed us;
מֵחֶֽרֶב הִצַּלְתָּֽנוּ. from the sword You saved us
וּמִדֶּֽבֶר מִלַּטְתָּֽנוּ. and from pestilence You removed us,
וּמֵחֳלָיִם רָעִים וְרַבִּים וְנֶאֱמָנִים and from many severe and lingering sicknesses,
דִּלִּיתָֽנוּ: have You withdrawn us.
עַד הֵֽנָּה Until now
עֲזָרֽוּנוּ רַחֲמֶֽיךָ. Your compassion has helped us
וְלֹא עֲזָבֽוּנוּ חֲסָדֶֽיךָ. and Your kindliness has not forsaken us.
וְאַל תִּטְּ֒שֵֽׁנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ. Do not abandon us, Adonoy, our God,
לָנֶֽצַח: for eternity.
עַל כֵּן Therefore,
אֵבָרִים שֶׁפִּלַּֽגְתָּ בָּֽנוּ. the limbs which You apportioned for us,
וְרֽוּחַ וּנְשָׁמָה and the spirit and soul
שֶׁנָּפַֽחְתָּ בְּאַפֵּֽינוּ. that You have breathed into our nostrils,
וְלָשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר שַֽׂמְתָּ בְּפִֽינוּ. and the tongue You have set in our mouth—
הֵן הֵם יוֹדוּ וִיבָרְ֒כוּ behold, they will thank, bless,
וִישַׁבְּ֒חוּ וִיפָאֲרוּ praise, glorify,
וִישׁוֹרְ֒רוּ וִירוֹמְ֒מוּ sing, exalt,
וְיַעֲרִֽיצוּ revere,
וְיַקְדִּֽישׁוּ וְיַמְלִֽיכוּ sanctify, and proclaim the sovereignty
אֶת שִׁמְךָ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ תָּמִיד. of Your Name, our King always.
כִּי כָל פֶּה לְךָ יוֹדֶה. For every mouth will thank You,
וְכָל לָשׁוֹן and every tongue
לְךָ תִשָּׁבַע. will swear allegiance to You,
וְכָל עַֽיִן לְךָ תְּצַפֶּה. and every eye looks to You,
וְכָל בֶּֽרֶךְ לְךָ תִכְרַע. and every knee will bend to You,
וְכָל קוֹמָה and all that stand up
לְפָנֶֽיךָ תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה. will prostrate themselves before You;
וְכָל הַלְבָבוֹת יִירָאֽוּךָ all hearts will fear You,
וְכָל קֶֽרֶב וּכְלָיוֹת and all innards and kidneys
יְזַמְּ֒רוּ לִשְׁמֶֽךָ will sing to Your Name
כַּדָּבָר שֶׁכָּתוּב as is written,
כָּל עַצְמוֹתַי תֹּאמַֽרְנָה “All my bones will say:
יְהֹוָה מִי כָמֽוֹךָ. Adonoy! who is like unto You?”
מַצִּיל עָנִי You save the poor man
מֵחָזָק מִמֶּֽנּוּ. from one stronger than he,
וְעָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן and the poor and needy
מִגּוֹזְ֒לוֹ from one who would rob him,111Psalms 35:10.
שַׁוְעַת עֲנִיִּים אַתָּה תִשְׁמַע. the cry of the poor You hear,
צַעֲקַת הַדַּל the scream of the impoverished
תַּקְשִׁיב וְתוֹשִֽׁיעַ: You hear and deliver.
מִי יִדְמֶה לָּךְ Who is like You?
וּמִי יִשְׁוֶה לָּךְ Who is equal to You?
וּמִי יַעֲרָךְ לָךְ. And who can be compared to You?
הָאֵל The Almighty,
הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא. the Great, the Powerful, the Awesome
אֵל עֶלְיוֹן most high Almighty,
קֹנֵה שָׁמַֽיִם וָאָֽרֶץ: Possessor of heaven and earth.
❖נְהַלֶּלְךָ וּנְשַׁבֵּחֲךָ We will extol You, we will praise You,
וּנְפָאֶרְךָ we will glorify You,
וּנְבָרֵךְ אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשֶֽׁךָ: and bless Your holy Name
כָּאָמוּר as it is said,
לְדָוִד “By David:
בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת יְהֹוָה. My soul, bless Adonoy!
וְכָל קְרָבַי and all that is within me [bless]
אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ: His holy Name!”112Psalms 103:1.
On Yom Tov, the Chazzan begins here
הָאֵל [You are] Almighty
בְּתַעֲצֻמוֹת עֻזֶּֽךָ. in the power of Your might;
הַגָּדוֹל בִּכְבוֹד שְׁמֶֽךָ. Great in the honor of Your Name,
הַגִּבּוֹר לָנֶֽצַח Powerful for ever
וְהַנּוֹרָא בְּנוֹרְ֒אוֹתֶֽיךָ. and awesome through Your awesome deeds;
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ הַיּוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא the King Who sits on a throne
רָם וְנִשָּׂא: [that is] exalted and uplifted.
On Shabbos, the Chazzan begins here:
שׁוֹכֵן עַד He Who dwells in eternity,
מָרוֹם וְקָדוֹשׁ שְׁמוֹ. exalted and holy is His Name.
וְכָתוּב And it is written:
רַנְּ֒נוּ צַדִּיקִים בַּיהוֹה. “Joyfully exult in God, [you] righteous ones,
לַיְ֒שָׁרִים נָאוָה תְהִלָּה: for the upright, praise is fitting.113Psalms 33:1.
בְּפִי יְשָׁרִים Through the mouth of the upright,
תִּתְרוֹמָם. You are exalted,
וּבְשִׂפְתֵי צַדִּיקִים and with the lips of the righteous
תִּתְבָּרַךְ. You are blessed;
וּבִלְשׁוֹן חֲסִידִים and by the tongue of the pious,
תִּתְקַדָּשׁ. You are sanctified;
וּבְקֶֽרֶב קְדוֹשִׁים and in the midst of the holy,
תִּתְהַלָּל: You are extolled.
וּבְמַקְהֲלוֹת And in the assemblies
רִבְבוֹת of myriads
עַמְּ֒ךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. of Your people, the House of Israel;
בְרִנָּה with joyful song
יִתְפָּאַר שִׁמְךָ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ glorified will be Your Name, our King,
בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר. in every generation.
שֶׁכֵּן חוֹבַת For it is the duty
כָּל הַיְ֒צוּרִים לְפָנֶֽיךָ. of all beings, before You,
יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ. וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ Adonoy, our God and God of our fathers,
❖לְהוֹדוֹת לְהַלֵּל לְשַׁבֵּחַ. to thank, to extol, and to praise; to eternalize
לְפָאֵר לְרוֹמֵם לְהַדֵּר וּלְנַצֵֽחַ to glorify, to exalt, and to honor;
לְבָרֵךְ לְעַלֵּה וּלְקַלֵּס to bless, to elevate, and to acclaim [You,]
עַל כָּל דִּבְרֵי even beyond all the words
שִׁירוֹת וְתִשְׁבְּ֒חוֹת of song and praise
דָּוִד בֶּן יִשַׁי. of David, son of Yishai,
עַבְדְּ֒ךָ מְשִׁיחֶךָ: Your servant, Your annointed.