Siddur Sefard, Yotzerot, Parashat Sekalim

מִסּוֹד חֲכָמִים וּנְבוֹנִים. וּמִלֶּמֶד דַּעַת מְבִינִים. אֶפְתְּחָה פִּי בְּשִׁיר וּרְנָנִים. לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל פְּנֵי שׁוֹכֵן מְעוֹנִים: According to the institution of Scholars and Sages, and the teaching of learned preceptors, I open my lips with songs and hymns, to give thanks and to praise Him who dwells in the heavenly heights.

אָז מֵאָז זַמּוֹתָ בְּכָל פּוֹעַל. בְּמִסְפָּר בְּמִשְׁקָל כֹּל לְךָ לְהַעַל. גַּדְתָּ בְּכֵן לְמָשׁוּי מִמֵּי שַׁעַל. דַּעַת מִפְקַד יוֹפִי פַּעֲמֵי נָעַל. הַעַל הֵמִירוּ כְּבוֹד רֵעַ בְּבַעַל. וְזֶה לְלֹא זֶה פָּצְחוּ בְּמַעַל. זֻנְּחוּ בַּחֲרוֹן אַף וְנֶגֶף וָגַעַל. חָל בַּעֲדָם חֶבֶר וְהַצֳּרִי תַעַל: טוֹרַח מַשָּׂאָם הֻגַּד לוֹ שְׂאֵת. יָשְׁרָם לְהָלִיץ תְּלוּי רֹאשׁ לָשֵׂאת: From ancient times didst Thou plan, in all Thy works, to bring into being all things by number and weight. Therefore didst Thou speak unto him who was drawn out of the water (Moses) to take the census of Israel who dryshod passed over the sea. But because they exchanged the glory of God for a calf, and in their apostasy called the idol “God,” they were cast away in Thy wrath and plagues overwhelmed them. Then did their friend (Moses) intercede for them, and his prayer brought about their healing. He was told to bear their cumbrance and burden, to plead their just cause that they might be raised high above all.

חזן: כָּפְרָם פָּץ תֵּת לְאֻמִּים מַשְׂאֵת. לְנַטְּלָם לְנַשְּׂאָם בְּכִי תִשָּׂא אֶת: Pagans, He declared, would be given for their ransom; they would be borne aloft and exalted, when they brought this half shekel offering...

רֹאשִׁי עַל כָּל רֹאשׁ נִשֵׂאתָ. גֵּוִי עַל גַּפֵּי מְרוֹמֵי קֶרֶת הִתְנַשֵּׂאתָה: My head hast Thou exalted over all, and hast uplifted me to the heights of the city.

חזן: אַהֲבָה עַל כָּל פֶּשַׁע כִּסִּיתָ. בְּגִין צֵל יְמִינְךָ לְגוֹנְנִי הִתְנַשֵּׂאתָ: Thy love covered up my every transgression. Thou didst arise to shield me in the shadow of Thy right hand....

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה. מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Shield of Abraham.

מַעְתִּיק פְּלוּסִים צָר וּבוֹרֵא רוּחַ. מְמַדֵּד וּמְשַׁקֵּל נֶזֶל עִם רוּחַ. נֶגֶף לְבַל יַזִּיק לְנִדְכְּאֵי רוּחַ. נוֹבַבְתָּם תֵּת פִּדְיוֹן לְכָל רוּחַ: שְׂרִיג זֵד שֵׂעִיר טֶרֶם עָמַד. סָקַרְתָּ כִּי לְמוֹקֵשׁ וְלִצְנִין יָעֳמַד. עַצְתָּ זֶה לָזֶה שֶׁמַע בְּמַעֲמַד. עִתּוּד שְׁקָלִים מֵרֹאשׁ חוֹדֶשׁ לִלְמַד: פָּרָשָׁה זֹאת לַהֲגוֹת בְּקֵץ זֶה. פְּלָסֶיהָ לְהַקְדִּים לְפֶלֶס צַר וּבוֹזֶה. Thou who removest mountains, who formest and createst the wind, who dost measure and weigh the flowing water and wind, that no harm befall them that are crushed in spirit. Thou didst command Israel to give a ransom for every soul. Long before the wanton scion of Esau (Haman) sprang up Thou didst foresee that he would arise as a snare and a prickly Hiom to Israel. Thou didst, therefore, advise them to proclaim in their representative assemblies to have ready the shekel gift from the New Moon of Adar, and to read the section from the Holy Writ at this period, that our shekels might anticipate the blood-money of Haman, our adversary.

חזן: צוּרַת מַטְבֵּעַ כְּחָז אֲבִי חוֹזֶה. צִוָּה צוּר לְצִיר כֵּן תֵּת מַתַּן זֶה: When Moses, the chief of the prophets, beheld the fiery likeness of the coin, he was told by the Creator to command Israel to bring such a gift.

שְׁמוֹ מְשֻׁתָּף בְּעַם לוֹ עֲמוּתִים. וְעָלָיו כָּל הַיּוֹם הֵם מוּמָתִים: God’s name is interwoven with the name of the people that is joined unto Him, who daily offer up their lives for His sake.

חזן: יָעִיר וְיַחֲשׂוֹף זְרוֹעַ וְיַד מִמְּתִים. בְּזִיל נִטְפֵי לֶקֶשׁ לְהַחֲיוֹת מֵתִים: He will rouse and bare His arm and stretch forth His hand over all men when the dew of life shall trickle to quicken the dead....

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה מְחַיֶּה הַמֵּתִים: Blessed art Thou, 0 Lord, who quickenest the dead.

קְצוּבָה הִיא זֹאת לְשׁוֹעִים וְקַלִּים. קְצִינִים וְרָשִׁים יַחַד בָּהּ שְׁקוּלִים. קָצִין לְבַל יָעוֹז מוּל מַקְהֵלִים. קְרוֹא לוֹמַר הוֹנִי פְּדָעַנִי מֵעִקּוּלִים: רוֹב עָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִסָּפֵר. רַב עִם צָעִיר מֵעֶשְׂרִים לְהִסָּפֵר. רְאוּיִם לְעוֹנֶשׁ וְזַהַר בְּסֵדֶר לְהִתָּפֵר. רֶשַׁע וְכָל פֶּשַׁע לְכַפֵּר וּלְהָפֵר: שְׁעוּרִים בָּזֶה שִׁעוּר בְּמִפְקַד לְהַגְבֵּר. שְׁתִילֵמוֹ לִנְשִׂיאַת רֹאשׁ אוֹתָם לְחַבֵּר: The amount (of this ransom silver) is fixed for all; great and small; rich and poor are appraised alike, that the rich shall not brazenly declare before the Assembly: “My wealth has gained me ransom for my sins.” The people that cannot be numbered for multitude, the men from twenty years onward, when man becomes subject to punishment after being duly warned, is thus counted. Thus is their iniquity and transgression atoned, and those that are taxed grow in strength, and their children join in their exaltation.

חזן: שִׁקְלֵי כֶסֶף כִּפּוּרִים כָּפְרָם לְהַדְבֵּר. שְׁמוּרִים לְזִכָּרוֹן תֵּת לְכָל הָעוֹבֵר: May the silver ransom shekels that everyone who is registered give bring them atonement.

תָּמְדוּ מֵאָז כָּל עֲדַת קְדוֹשִׁים. תְּרוֹם בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה פְרָקִים תְּרוּמַת קָדָשִׁים: From ancient times on has the Holy Congregation continued to bring this sacred offering at three stated intervals...

חזן: תְּכוּנָה לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת וְכָל אִשִׁים. תֵּת בְּיַד הַכֹּהֲנִים כֶּסֶף הַקֳּדָשִׁים: to the hands of the priests for the expense of the repair of the Temple and for the sacrifice.

תֵּפֶן בְּאוֹן פִּיד טִיט רִפְשֵׁנוּ. תַּבִּיט בְּדָכְיֵנוּ וְעוֹד בַּל תַּכְפִּישֵׁנוּ: O gaze upon our distress and misery, how we are trampled in the mire. Behold our oppression and let us no longer wallow in the dust.

חזן: תִּקְרָא דְרוֹר כְּמֵאָז בּוֹ לְהַחְפִּישֵׁנוּ. תֵּת הֲמוֹן לְאֻמִּים תַּחַת נַפְשֵׁנוּ: Proclaim liberty as of yore, and free us from bondage, and let pagans be the ransom for our soul.

תִּזְכּוֹר לְהַעֲלוֹת נְשׂוּאֵי רַחַם מִדָּכְיָם. תְּמוּכִים נְזוּרִים בְּהוֹד טוֹב עֶדְיָם: O remember to raise up from the surging waves of the sea them that were borne by Thee. Sustain them and crown them with crowns of splendor.

חזן: תּוֹקֶף עוֹז אִדְּרוּךָ עַל יָם. תִּזְכּוֹר לְעָם מִסְפָּרָם כְּחוֹל הַיָּם. Remember the mighty song of victory with which the people whose number is as the sand of the sea glorified Thy name on the Red Sea.

חו"ק: יִמְלוֹךְ יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם אֱלֹהַיִךְ צִיוֹן לְדוֹר וָדוֹר הַלְלוּיָהּ: וְאַתָּה קָדוֹשׁ יוֹשֵׁב תְּהִלּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵל נָא: The Lord shall reign for ever, thy God, 0 Zion, through all generations, Halleluyah. Thou ART holy, O Thou that are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

מִי יוּכַל לְשַׁעֵר כָּל הַפְּקוּדִים. אֲשֶׁר בְּחֶבֶל וּבְחֶלֶשׁ לֹא נִפְקָדִים. בְּרִית כְּרוּתָה לָמוֹ מֵאָז בְּפִקוּדִים. לְבַל יֶחְסַר הַמָּזֶג מֵחוֹמֶשׁ פִּקּוּדִים: וְאִם כְּתוֹרֶן וְכַנֵּס יֻשְׂרְדוּ מֻפְקָדִים. לֹא יֻמְעֲטוּ מִשִׁשִׁים רִבּוֹא מְנֻקָּדִים. וְאִם לְנֶגֶף וָאֶנֶף בְּאַף מוּפְקָדִים. כֶּסֶף תֵּת כּוֹפֶר הֵם מְפֻקָדִים. וּבְכָל עֶרֶב נִשְׁמָתָם בְּיָדְךָ מַפְקִידִים. וּבְכָל רִגְעֵי בוֹקֶר נִבְחָנִים וְנִפְקָדִים. וְלִי מַה יָקְרוּ עָלַי הַפְּקוּדִים. אֵלֶה הַפְּקוּדִים וְהַמִּתְפָּקְדִים. שְׁמוֹר פִּקוּדִים וְנִפְקָדִים וְשׁוֹקְדִים. הֱיוֹת מְשֻׁקָּדִים. וּלְךָ קוֹדִים. Who can compute all those that are mustered? Their number cannot be determined by measure or lot. From of yore a covenant has been made with them that ne’er shall their number be less than that recorded in the Book of Numbers. Were they to be left as a beacon or as an ensign on a hill, yet shall their number e’er be sixty myriads at least. And when pestilence and grievous plagues are ordained for them, then shall they bring the silver half-shekel as their ransom. Every evening they commit their spirit into Thy hand, and every morning they are tried and visited by Thee. As for me, how precious are Thy ordinances to me, and those that are mustered according to these ordinances. O Lord, protect both those that are mustered and those that are left out, who are intent to be like almond-blossoms as they bow their heads to Thee —

חו"ק: חַי וְקַיָם נוֹרָא וּמָרוֹם וְקָדוֹשׁ: LIVING AND ENDURING, AWE-INSPIRING, EXALTED AND HOLY!

אוֹמֵן בְּשָׁמְעוֹ כִּי תִשָׂא אֶת רֹאשׁ. חָל וַיֵּחַת אֵיךְ אוֹתָם דְּרוֹשׁ: לְעַם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִמַּד וְלֹא יִסָּפֵר. אֵיכָכָה אֶסְפְּרֵם וְלֹא נִתְּנוּ לְהִסָפֵר: עִקָרָם כְּנֶאֱמַר לוֹ הַבֵּט וּסְפוֹר. שָׁב וַיוּשַׁב אִם תּוּכַל לִסְפּוֹר: זַרְעָם כְּחוֹל יַמִּים וְכוֹכָבִים סְפוּרִים. וַאֲנִי אֵיךְ אֶסְפְּרֵם וְלָעַד פָּרִים: רָם חִוָּה לוֹ אוֹת מִסְפָּרָם. אֵיךְ לִמְנוֹתָם וְלַעֲמוֹד עַל סִפְרָם: בִּקּוּר רָאשֵׁי שְׁמוֹתָם לְחֶשְׁבּוֹן תְּעַלֶּה. וּמִדַּת מִנְיָנָם בְּיָדְךָ אָז תַּעֲלֶה: יָקָר שְׁלִישִׁי בְּתוֹכָם לֹא הָפְקַד. כִּי לִגְיוֹן מֶלֶךְ לְבַדּוֹ נִפְקַד: רָשׁוּם מִבֶּטֶן לְהִפָּקֵד בְמִשְׁמֶרֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ. וּצְבָאוֹ וּפְקוּדָיו נִמְנִים מִבֶּן חוֹדֶשׁ: בְּשָׁמְעוֹ אֹמֶר וְנָתְנוּ אִישׁ כּוֹפֶר. פָּץ בַּמֶּה יִתְרַצֶּה אֶשְׁכּוֹל הַכּוֹפֶר: יְצִיר מַה יִתֵּן פִּדְיוֹן נַפְשׁוֹ. וְיִמְצָא חֲנִינָה פְּנֵי שָׂם נַפְשׁוֹ: קָדוֹשׁ כְּחָפֵץ לְהַצְדִּיק עַם זֶה. כְּמִין מַטְבֵּעַ אֵשׁ הֶרְאָהוּ בַּמַּחֲזֶה: לִמְּדוֹ זֶה יִתְּנוּ וְלֹא יִתְמַתְנוּ. וְלַכֹּל יְתַנוּ אֵת אֲשֶׁר נָתְנוּ: יָהּ לֹא מְצָאנוּךָ שַׂגִּיא כֹּחַ. כַּאֲשֶׁר נִקֵיתָ חֵטְא גִּבּוֹרֵי כֹּחַ: When the nursing-father (Moses) heard the command “When you take the census of the children of Israel’’ he trembled and quaked. “How can a people be fathomed that cannot be measured or numbered? When their ancestor Abraham was told ‘Look now, and count the stars,’ he stood off, as he was told again, ‘if you be able to count them.’ Their seed is like the sand of the sea and like the stars of the heaven. How, then, can I count them since they continually multiply?’’ The exalted God then taught him a device to compute their number. “Add the numerical value (in thousands) of the initials of their tribes and the total of their number will result.’’ The noble third tribe (Levi), however, was not mustered among them; the King’s troop was numbered separately. Distinguished from birth, appointed to the charge of the Sanctuary, the hosts of Levi were numbered from a month old and upward. When Moses heard the command: "Then shall every man give a ransom’’ he asked: "How can man gain reconciliation with the Creator of all? What can a creature give as the ransom for his soul, to find grace in the eye of the Creator of his soul?’’ Then showed the Holy One, who desired to free His people from guilt, the likeness of a fiery coin to Moses in a vision. He instructed him: "This shall they give without delay, and they shall publicly declare the sum that they pay.” O Eternal, we cannot comprehend Thee, so mighty in strength art Thou. As Thou didst of yore cleanse from sin those that were mustered in strength,

חזן: רַחוּם כְּרִחַמְתָּ נְשׂוּאֶיךָ בְּכֶסֶף כִּפּוּרִים. כֵּן שְׁעֵה שְׂפָתֵינוּ בְּשִׁלּוּם פָּרִים: and didst show mercy to Thy children by the atonement silver, so do Thou accept the rendering of our lips for the offering of bullocks.

אֵל נָא לְעוֹלָם תָּעֳרָץ. וּלְעוֹלָם תֻּקְדָּשׁ. וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים תִּמְלוֹךְ וְתִתְנַשֵׂא. הָאֵל מֶלֶךְ נוֹרָא מָרוֹם וְקָדוֹשׁ. כִּי אַתָּה הוּא מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים. מַלְכוּתוֹ נֶצַח. נוֹרְאוֹתָיו שִׂיחוּ. סַפְּרוּ עֻזּוֹ. פָּאֲרוּהוּ צְבָאָיו. קַדְּשׁוּהוּ רוֹמְמוּהוּ. רוֹן שִׁיר וָשֶׁבַח. תּוֹקֶף תְּהִלוֹת תִּפְאַרְתּוֹ. O Lord! Forever shalt Thou be adored and eternity and forever and aye shalt Thou reign in exaltation, 0 God, revered, great and holy King. For Thou art the King of kings whose kingdom is enduring. Proclaim His wondrous works, recount His might, glorify Him, His hosts, sanctify Him, exalt in hymn, song and praise His awesome grandeur.

חו"ק: עַד אֶשָּׂא רֹאשׁ. כְּמוֹ מֵרֹאשׁ. לְהַקְדִּישׁ לְקָדוֹשׁ: Until my head on high I raise. / As I did in ancient days. / My holy God and Lord to praise;

חו"ק: עַד בְּמֹאזְנֵי צֶדֶק. יַכְרִיעֵנִי לְצֶדֶק. נוֹרָא וְקָדוֹשׁ: When in the balance me He lays. / His mercy justice far outweighs.

אֵלֶה אֶזְכְּרָה אֵת אֲשֶׁר נַעֲשָׂה. בִּהְיוֹתִי בֶּטַח וְשָׁקֵט בְּנָכוֹן וְנִשָׂא. גּוֹעַלְתִּי בְּעֵבֶר וּשְׁקָלַי אֵיךְ אֶשָׂא: דֵּי שְׁקָלַי עַד לֹא שָׁקַלְתִּי. הִנָם לְמַס עוֹבֵד הַיוֹם שָׁקַלְתִּי. וּבְחֵטְא עִווּל שֶׁקֶל לְרָשָׁע נִשְׁקַלְתִּי: זוּזַי לְלֹא תַתִּי לְשָׁכְנִי בְגִילָה. חַבְתִּי לְתַשְׁלוּם דַּרְכְּמוֹן לְעוֹלֵי גוֹלָה. טֻבְּעוּ גַם הֵם וְהוּעֲרַמְתִּי מְגֻלָּה: יוֹשֶׁר שָׁלֹשׁ קֻפּוֹת מְשֻׁלָּשׁוֹת סְאִים. כְּנוּסוֹת לְמִקַּח שַׁי מְרִיאִים וְשֵׂיִים. לֻקְּחוּ וְאֵין עוֹד בִּצְעִי נוֹשְׂאִים: מִדַּת שׁוֹפְרוֹת תַּקְלִין חַדְתִּין וְעַתִּיקִין. נְדָבוֹת אֲשֶׁר בָּם הָיוּ מְעַתְּקִין. סָרוּ כַּמָּה מֶנִּי וְהַדְּבָרִים עַתִּיקִין: עוֹצֶם הֲמוֹן חוֹגֵג שׁוֹטֵף כַּנָהָר. פֻּזַר וְנוֹתַרְתִּי כְּתֹרֶן בְּרֹאשׁ הָהָר. צֶדֶק מְלוֹנִי שׁוּעֲרָר כְּתֵל הָר: קַן צִפּוֹר קָרָא לִמְרוֹם הָרִים. רֹאשׁ נְשׂוּאֶיךָ כְּמֵאָז בּוֹ לְהָרִים. שִׁבְעָה וּשְׁמוֹנָה עֲלֵיהֶם לְרֹאשׁ תָּרִים: Well do I remember events of long ago, when I dwelt sale and secure on the towering Temple Hill. But because of my sins I was driven out; how, then shall I bring my shekel offering? Because formerly I did not regularly pay my shekels, I am forced now to pay them as tribute to the oppressor. For the sin also of false balance I have been given over to the tyrant. Because I did not give my mite while I dwelt in joy, I was obliged to pay a gold daric to the returning pilgrims. And now these, too, are vanished and I am denuded bare. In three baskets, each holding three SEAHS, collections were made for purchasing the offerings of bullocks and lambs. Of them, too, I am deprived; they no longer make atonement for the sin of coveteousness. The Shofar-like chests which contained "New Shekel dues," and “Old Shekel dues," and the "Free-will offering" chests in which collections were made, have long been removed from me, long, long ago. The mighty throng in festival procession. like an overflowing river, has been scattered, and I am left lonely like a signal upon the hill. My sacred dwelling lies waste like a hill of rubbish. O, call again the scattered bird-nest to the exalted hill, and lift up again, as in ancient times, the head of those borne by Thee, and raise over them seven shepherds and eight princes (Micah 5,4).

חזן: עַד אֶשָׂא רֹאשׁ. כְּמוֹ מֵרֹאשׁ. לְהַקְדִּישׁ לְקָדוֹשׁ: Until my head on high I raise. / As I did in ancient days. / My holy God and Lord to praise.

וּבְכֵן וּלְךָ תַעֲלֶה קְדוּשָׁה כִּי אַתָּה קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמוֹשִׁיעַ: And thus may sanctification ascend unto Thee, for Thou are the Holy One of Israel, the Savior!

אָז רָאִיתָ וְסִפַּרְתָּ. וְהֵכַנְתָּ וְחָקַרְתָּ. וּמָדַדְתָּ וְכַלְתָּ וְשָׁקַלְתָּ. וְאָמַדְתָּ וְצָבַרְתָּ. וּפָקַדְתָּ וְחָשַׁבְתָּ וְסִכַּמְתָּ. וּמָנִיתָ וְסָפַרְתָּ. וְקָצַבְתָּ וְחָרַצְתָּ וְגָזַרְתָּ. וְטִפַּחְתָּ וְשִׁעַרְתָּ וְהִבַּטְתָּ. וְהֵבַנְתָּ וְהִשְׂכַּלְתָּ וְשַׁרְתָּ וְסָקַרְתָּ. וְכָתַבְתָּ וְחָרַטְתָּ. וְחָקַקְתָּ וְצִיַּנְתָּ וְחָרַתָּ וְלִמַּדְתָּ וְהוֹדַעְתָּ וְחִוִיתָ וְהוֹרֵיתָ. וְגָזַרְתָּ וְצִוִּיתָ וְקָרָאתָ וְעָנִיתָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ וְאָמַרְתָּ: כָּל מִנְיָן וּמִפְקָד וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן וּמִסְפָּרָיו. כָּל מִשְׁקָל וָפֶלֶס וְכִיס וְגִזוּרָיו. כָּל כַּיִל לַח וְיָבֵשׁ וּמְשׂוּרָיו. כָּל קַו וָקֶצֶב וּמֶדֶד וְשִׁעוּרָיו: הֵיךְ לְדַקְדֵּק חֶשְׁבּוֹן לְכָל דָבָר. לְבַל יֻגְלַם חֶשְׁבּוֹן וְיִשְׁטַף וְיוּעֲבָר: Then didst Thou see and number, order, investigate, measure, compute and weigh, estimate and gather, muster, devise and sum, count calculate, delimit decide and decree, gauge dimensions and quantify, view, reflect, comprehend, gaze and behold. Thou didst write, mark and trace, indicate and engrave, teach and Instruct expound and direct decree and command, call and answer, speak and determine every numeration, calculation, reckoning and summation, every weight balance, weight-bag and its markings, every liquid and dry measure, every line, plane, long measure and its limits; how to attend to the exact calculation of every matter, lest a confused reckoning cause every thing to be destroyed and pass away,

מַתְחִיל בִּמְדִידָה מֵחֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה. עַד שֶׁהוּא מְכַלֶה בְּאֶצְבַּע הַקְטַנָה: דֶּרֶךְ יוֹם הוּא בְּעֶשֶׂר פַּרְסָה. וְאַרְבַּעַת מִיל הִיא כָּל פַּרְסָה: וּמִדַּת הַמִּיל שִׁבְעָה וּמֶחֱצָה רִיס. וּבִשְׁלֹשִׁים קָנִים הוּא קֶצֶב הָרִיס: וְשִׁעוּר הַקָּנֶה שֵׁשׁ אַמּוֹת וָזֶרֶת. וְכָל אַמָּה מוֹדֶדֶת שְׁלִישׁ בַּזֶרֶת: וְהַזֶרֶת מוֹתַחַת עַד שְׁנַיִם בַּסִּיט. וְאַרְבַּע אֶצְבָּעוֹת הוּא הַטֶּפַח וְהַסִּיט: וּכְמוֹ נִתְּנָה מִדָּה לִמְדִידַת הָאָרֶץ. כֵּן נִתַּן כַּיִל לְתוֹלְדוֹת הָאָרֶץ: מַתְחִיל מִמֵּאָה וְשִׁשִׁים וָשֵׁשׁ שָׁנָה עַד שֶׁהוּא מְכַלֶה בִּשְׁתּוּת אֶצְבַּע קְטַנָּה: beginning with the measure of five hundred years' distance (the distance from heaven to earth) and ending with a finger’s breadth. A day's journey is ten PARASANGS. Each PARASANG consists of four MILS. The measure of a MIL is seven and one-half RIS; the measure of a RIS is thirty rods. The measure of a rod is six cubits and a span, every cubit measures three spans. The span measures two SITS, and four finger-breadths yield a handbreadth or a SIT. And just as there is a measure for the measurement of the earth, so is there a measure for the divisions of the earth. The first is one hundred and sixty-six years and the last is a sixth of a finger’s breadth.

זֶה הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל בִּשְׁלִישׁ יוֹשֵׁב. בְּמֵאָה וְשִׁשִׁים וְשֵׁשׁ וָעוֹד מִתְחַשֵׁב: וְעָמְקוֹ בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה לְמֵתַח סוּף. וְסוּף בְּשִׁבְעִים וּשְׁנַיִם לְעוֹגֶל גִיחוֹן. וְגִיחוֹן מַכְפִּיל שִׁשִׁים כְּמִדַּת פְּרָת. וְהַפְּרָת תָּקְפוֹ כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנֵי הַנְּהָרוֹת. וּשְׁנֵי הַנְּהָרוֹת מַעְדִּיפִים בְּאֹרֶךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן. וְהַיַּרְדֵּן מַרְחִיב חֲמִשָׁה כְּיַם הַזְּבוּל. וְיַם הַזְּבוּל מֵאָה וַחֲמִשִׁים מִקְוָאוֹת. וּמִדַּת הַמִּקְוָה כִּשְׁנֵי חֳמָרִים בְּיָבֵשׁ. וְשִׁעוּר כָּל חוֹמֶר כִּשְׁנֵי לְתָכִים. וְכָל לֶתֶךְ יָכִיל חָמֵשׁ אֵיפוֹת. וְכָל אֵיפָה עוֹשָׂה עֲשָׂרָה עֳמָרִים. וְכָל עוֹמֶר שִׁבְעַת רֶבַע וּכְלָה. וְהַכְּלָה אֶחָד מִמֵּאָה וָעוֹבִּסְאָה. וּסְאַת יָבֵשׁ חֲסֵרָה שְׁלִישׁ בַּלַח. וּסְאַת הַלַּח אֶחָד מִשְׁלשָׁה בַּבַּת. וְכָל בַּת מַחֲזֶקֶת שִׁשָׁה בַּהִין. וְהַהִין כֻּלוֹ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר לוֹג. וָעוֹד, הַלוֹג מִתְחַלֵּק לְאַרְבַּעַת רְבָעִים וְרֶבַע מוּכָן לְרִבּוּעַ כּוֹס יְשׁוּעות. וְהַכּוֹס סוֹבֵב אֶצְבָּעַיִם עַל אֶצְבָּעַיִם. וְעַל גוֹבַהּ חָסֵר שְׁתוּת מֵאֶצְבָּעַיִם: The great ocean is a third of the inhabited world, calculated at one hundred and sixty-six plus, and its depth is twenty-four times the width of the Red Sea. The Red Sea is seventy-two times the circuit of the river Gihon, and Gibon is sixty times the measure of Euphrates. Euphrates comprises the content of the two rivers (Hidekel and Pishon), and these two rivers exceed the Jordan in length. The Jordan extends five times the width of the metal sea in the Temple, and the Temple sea contains one hundred and fifty immersion-pools. The measure of the immersion-pool is two HOMER, according the toe dry manure. Each HOMER contains two LETEKS, each LETEK contains five EPHAHS, eachch EPHA makes ten OMERS, and every OMER contains seven-quarters and a KELAH, and the KELAH is about one hundredth part of a SEAH, and a dry- measure SEAH is one-third less than the liquid SEAH. A liquid SEAH is a third of a BATH, a BATH contains six HIN, a HIN twelve LOG; the LOG further is divided into four quarters, a quarter is the measure of each of the four cups of wine, drunk on the Feast of Redemption (Passover). The cup contains two fingers breadths square, and its height is two fingers-breadth minus a sixth.

וּכְמוֹ נִתַּן כַּיִל לְתוֹלְדוֹת הָאָרֶץ. כֵּן נִתַּן קֵץ לִימֵי הָאָרֶץ. מַתְחִיל לִמְנוֹת מִשֵׁשֶׁת אַלְפֵי עֶרֶץ. עַד שֶׁהוּא מְכַלֶּה בְּרִגְעֵי אָרֶץ. כִּי כָל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ שֵׁשֶׁת אֲלָפִים. עוֹשִׂים חֲמִשָׁה וּשְׁתֵּי יָדַיִם מַחֲזוֹרוֹת. וּמִנְיַן הַמַּחֲזוֹר בְּעֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁנַיִם יוֹבְלוֹת. וּשְׁנַת הַיוֹבֵל שֶׁבַע שַׁבְּתוֹת הַשָׁנִים. וְשַׁבְּתוֹת הַשָׁנִים בְּעֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה תְּקוּפוֹת. וִימוֹת הַתְּקוּפָה תִּשְׁעִים וְאֶחָד יוֹם וּשְׁלִישׁ. וְעוֹנוֹת הַיוֹם חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וְשִׁבְעִים וָשֵׁשׁ. וְרִגְעֵי הָעוֹנָה כְּעוֹנוֹת כָּל הַיוֹם. וְהַמְדַקְדֵּק מְחַלֵּק הָרֶגַע לְכַמָּה רְגָעִים: And just as there is a measurement for the divisions of the earth so are there measures for time. The first number is six thousand years of the duration the universe and the last is a moment. The world's existence is six thousand years, which comprise five cycles (of 1078) and two parts of a cycle. A cycle consists of twenty-two jubilees, a jubilee year contains seven Sabbaths of years. And the Sabbaths of years are about twenty-two periods, and the days of a period are ninety-one and a third. The day is divided into five-hundred and seventy-six divisions, each division is further divided into as many instants, and one who is mathematically precise divides the instant into many parts.

וּכְמוֹ נִתַּן חֶשְׁבּוֹן עַל כֹּל. כֵּן נִתַּן מִשְׁקַל וָפֶלֶס לַכֹּל. מַתְחִיל מִכִּכָּר עַד פְּרוּטָה הַקְטַנָּה: כִּכָּר הַגָּדוֹל כְּגֹדֶל שְׁנֵי מָנֶה. (נוסח הגר"א כִּכָּר הַגָּדוֹל כְּגֹדֶל שִׁשִּׁים מָנֶה, וְהַמָּנֶה מִתְחַשֵּׁב בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ סֶלַע וְהַסֶּלַע וכו' כי בקע ושקל הכל אחד) , וְהַמָּנֶה עוֹלֶה עַד שִׁשִׁים שֶׁקֶל. וְהַשֶׁקֶל מִתְחַשֵׁב בְּעֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ סֶלַע. וְהַסֶּלַע חֶצְיוֹ בֶּקַע וּרְבִיעַ זוּז. וְהַזוּז מִתְחַלֵק לְפֶלֶג וְחוֹמְשׁוֹ מָעָה. נִמְצָא הַזוּז חָמֵשׁ מָעוֹת כֶּסֶף. וְהַמָּעָה שְׁתֵּי פוּנְדְּיוֹנוֹת. בְּאִסָּר דָת. וְהָאִסָּר עוֹלֶה עַד שְׁמוֹנֶה פְּרוּטוֹת. נִמְצָא הַבֶּקַע כְּאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת פְּרוּטוֹת. וְהֵם בִּכְתָב חֲרוּטוֹת. וּבְפֶה מְפוֹרָטוֹת: And just as there is a definite measure for all things, so is there weight and balance for all things, beginning with a talent and ending with the small PERUTAH. The large talent weighs two MINAHS, and a MINAH amounts to sixty shekels. A shekel is considered the value of twenty-five SELAHS, halt of a SELAH is a BEKKA, and a quarter thereof is a ZUZ. A ZUZ is divided into two parts, a fifth of a ZUZ is a MAAH. A ZUZ, therefore, contains five silver MAAHS. A MAAH contains two PONDIONS and an ISAR, according to the regulation, an ISAR contains eight PERUTAHS; a BEKKA, therefore, has four-hundred PERUTAHS. These figures are recorded in writing and orally expounded.

וְעַד מָקוֹם שֶׁאֱנוֹשׁ יָכוֹל לִמְנוֹת. נִמְסַר לוֹ לִמְדּוֹד וְגַם לִמְנוֹת: לְפִי כֹחוֹ וּלְפִי מִעוּט חֵילוֹ. הָקְצַב לוֹ מִעוּט הוֹן שִׁקְלוֹ. וּלְפִי שִׂכְלוֹ כֵּן יְהִי הִלּוּלוֹ. גָּדוֹל אֲדוֹנֵינוּ וְרַב כֹּחַ חֵילוֹ. עַל כֵּן אוֹחִיל לוֹ: כִּי מִדָתוֹ וְשִׁקְלוֹ לְפִי גָדְלוֹ. כָּל אוֹצְרוֹת שֶׁלֶג וְרוּחַ פִּלֵס בְּמִשְׁקָלוֹ: וּמֵי בְּרֵאשִׁית מָדַד מְלֹא שָׁעֳלוֹ. וּשְׁמֵי רוֹם תִּכֵּן זֶרְתּוֹ מְלֹא. וְכָל הַרְרֵי קֶדֶם בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ שְׁקָלוֹ. וְגִבְעוֹת עוֹלָם תָּמַךְ בְּהוֹד אֲגֻדָּלוֹ. גֵּיא וְכָל עֲפָרָהּ בִּצְרָדָה הֱכִילוֹ. לְחוֹלֵל תַּנִין מְיֻמֶּנֶת הֵכִין לוֹ: נִמְצֵאת כָּל מִדַּת יְצִירַת עוֹלָמוֹ. כִּמְלֹא פִסַּת יָד הִיא רִשׁוּמוֹ. וּכְקָמֵיעַ בְּיַד גִּבּוֹר בִּזְרוֹעַ חוֹתָמוֹ. וְאֵין לִקְצוֹב רוֹב מֶחְקְרֵי תַעֲצוּמוֹ. אֲשֶׁר מָדַד וְקָצַב וְשִׁעֵר בִּמְרוֹמוֹ. עַל כָּל מִדַת כִּסְאוֹ וַהֲדוֹמוֹ: מִדַּת בַּת מֶלֶךְ בַּכֹּל מְעֻלָה. בְּאֹרֶךְ בְּרוֹחַב בְּעוֹמֶק בְּגּוֹבַהּ מִתְעַלָּה. כִּי יֵשׁ קֵץ לְכָל תִּכְלָה. וְאִמְרָהּ רְחָבָה לָעַד לֹא כָלָה: מִדַּת עוֹלָם כִּמְלֹא פִסַּת יָד. וּמִדָּתָהּ נְתוּנָה בִּימִין וּזְרוֹעַ וָיָד: מִדַּת עוֹלָם כְּמִזֶּרֶת וְעַד אֲגֻדָּל. וּמִדָּתָהּ בְּקַו אֲשֶׁר מְאֹד גָּדָל: מִדַּת עוֹלָם נִמְדֶּדֶת בִּשְׁלִישׁ אַמָּה. וּמִדָּתָהּ עוֹלָה וְנוֹסֶבֶת כְּאַלְפַּיִם אַמָּה: כְּמַרְאֵה הַמִּדָּה אֲשֶׁר צִיר רָאָה. מְגִלָּה עֶשְׂרִים עַל עֶשֶׂר אַמָּה. עָפָה אַרְבָּעִים עַל עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה מֵאוֹת אַמָּה. וְכָל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בִּשְׁלִישׁ אַמָּה: נִמְצֵאת דָּת בְּמִדוֹתֶיהָ רְחָבָה וַאֲרֻכָּה. אַלְפַּיִם וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת בָּעוֹלָם מַאֲרִיכָה. וְהִיא נָתְנָה לָעוֹלָם מַרְפֵּא וַאֲרוּכָה. וּבִימִינָהּ קוֹצֶבֶת כָּל יְמֵי אַרְכָה, וּבִשְׂמֹאלָהּ שׁוֹקֶלֶת עוֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד וּבְרָכָה: וְהִיא הוֹדִיעָה אֶת כָּל חֶבְיוֹן סְתוּרוֹת. וְהוּא קָצְבָה כָּל מִדּוֹת סְפוּרוֹת. וְהִיא פָּתְחָה אֶת כָּל סְגוּרוֹת. וְהִיא שָׁקְלָה וְאָצְרָה אֶת כָּל אוֹצָרוֹת: וְהִיא חָקְרָה הֲמוֹן מִפְקַד תַּחְתּוֹנִים. וְהִיא נָתְנָה מִסְפַּר גְּדוּדֵי עֶלְיוֹנִים: וְהִיא שִׁעֲרָה קוֹמַת אַלְפֵי שִׁנְאַנִּים. אֲשֶׁר זֶה מִזֶּה בְּקוֹמָתָם מְשֻׁנִּים: יֵשׁ כְּמִדַּת הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל קוֹמָתָם. וְיֵשׁ כַּחֲלָלוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הֲקָמָתָם. וְיֵשׁ כִּמְלֹא כָל הָעוֹלָם תְּקוּמָתָם. יֵשׁ לִשְׁתֵּי טִיסוֹת טָסִים עוֹלָם. וְיֵשׁ לְטִיסָה אַחַת עָפִים עוֹלָם. וְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּמַחֲנֵהוּ נֶעְלָם. וּבִמְחִיצָתוֹ צָג וְחָשׁ וְדוּמָם וְנֶאֱלָם. עַד יִתֵּן רְשׁוּת מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם. וְחָשִׁים עַד יַמְלִיכוּהוּ עַם עוֹלָם. וְאָז יִפְצְחוּ לְפָאֵר אֱלֹהֵי עוֹלָם. וּמִשֶׁהֵם מְפָאֲרִים עוֹד לֹא שׁוֹנִים. כִּי בִנְהַר דִינוֹר שָׂחִים וְנִתָּנִים. וְעוֹד מֶנּוּ נֶחֱצָבִים וּמִתְחַדְשִׁים כָּרִאשׁוֹנִים. שֶׁבַח וְהַלֵל וָרוֹן לָאֵל מְשַׁנְּנִים. וְכִפֵּי קֶשֶׁת עִם כְּנַף רְנָנִים. זֶמֶר וָשִׁיר וְעוֹז וָרֶנֶן מְרַנְּנִים. וּשְׂרָפִים הַמְעֻלִּים עַל כָּל שִׁנְאֲנִּים. שֵׁשׁ שֵׁשׁ כְּנָפַיִם בְּגֶוְיָם חֲנוּנִים. מִמַעַל לְיוֹשֵׁב עֲרָבוֹת בַּכֵּס נְתוּנִים. וּלְיוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא בְּחִילָה מְנַגְּנִים. מְצוֹא חֵן בְּנִגּוּנָם הֵם מְחַנְּנִים. וְקוֹדֶם לְכָל צְבָא מַעַל עוֹנִים. וְשִׁלוּשׁ קְדֻשָׁה לְרָם וְנִשָׂא נוֹתְנִים. כּוֹרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים הֲמוֹנִים הֲמוֹנִים. לְנַעֲרָץ בְּסוֹד הֲמוֹן גְּדוּדֵי עֶלְיוֹנִים. וְנִקְדָּשׁ בְּאַלְפֵי רִבְבוֹת תַּחְתּוֹנִים: As far as man is able to count he is permitted to measure as well as to count. According to his frailty and the paucity of his possessions has the small offering of the shekel been set for him. But God’s praise is according to His wisdom. Great is our Lord and exceedingly strong. I shall, therefore, wait for Him, whose measure and weight, wherewith He measures and weighs, are according to His greatness. All treasuries of wind He weighed with His weight, and the waters at Creation time He measured in the hollow of His hand, and meted out the high heavens with His span. All primeval mountains He weighed with His finger, and the everlasting hills He upheld with His glorious index finger. The earth with all its dust, He upheld with His middle finger. He prepared His right arm to pierce the Dragon (Pharaoh) through. Thus are all the measures of His created world sketched according to the parts of the palm of His hand, and He carries the world, stamped by His seal, on His arm as a strong man carries an amulet. No limit is there to His great, unsearchable might, by which He measured, bounded and fathomed in His heights. Above all the dimensions of His throne and His footstool (heaven and earth) is the dimension of the all-exalted Princess (Torah), surpassing in eminence, in length, breadth, depth and height. All things have a limit, but Thy broad Word has no end. The dimensions of the world are measured by the palm of His hand, but the Torah’s dimension is set between His right and left arms. The length of the world reaches from the ring-finger to the thumb, but the Torah’s length is measured by a very long line. The world measures a third of a cubit, but the Torah’s measures exceed two thousand cubit.s Just like the vision which the prophet Zechariah saw, when he beheld a scroll, twenty by ten cubit; being folded, it was forty by twenty, or eight hundred square cubits. The entire world being a third of a cubit, the Torah is two-thousand and four hundred times wider and longer. The Torah was given to the world as a healing and cure, with her right hand she apportions length of life on earth, and with her left she assigns riches and honor and blessing. She revealed all hidden secrets, she set all enumerated measures. She loosed all knots and she weighed and measured all treasures. She investigated the multitude and number of earthly beings, and she declared the number of the heavenly hosts. She estimated the height of the thousands of angels, who differ from each other in stature. Some are of a stature as great as the great sea, some as the space between heaven and earth; and others, as the fulness of the universe. Some soar through the world in two flights; some—in one flight. Each one is hidden in his own camp, standing in his compartment hushed, silent and speechless, until the King of the universe give permission. They are silent until the eternal people proclaim His sovereignty, then they break out in song to the King of the universe. And having uttered praise they do not repeat, for they plunge again into the River of Fire, whence ever-new angels, like the former, are formed, and chant praise, glorification and hymns unto God. The dome of heaven together with winged angels intone psalm, anthem, ode and song. The Seraphim, most exalted over all angels, graceful six-winged forms, stand above the Throne of Him who dwells in the seventh heaven, and chant in awe to the enthroned God, seeking to find grace by their melody. Before all the heavenly hosts they chant, proclaiming the Trisagion to the high and exalted One. Multitudes upon multitudes they kneel and prostrate themselves to Him who is glorified in the assembly of thousands of myriads of heavenly beings, and sanctified by thousands of myriads of earthly denizens, as it is recorded by Thy prophet that they called to one another, "Holy, holy, holy.’’