This is the first of the two berachos that follow the Shema.
וֶאֱמוּנָה כָּל זֹאת —and faithful is all this,1All that we have affirmed in the Shema. is true and trustworthy.—Etz Yosef
וְקַיָּם עָלֵֽינוּ and it is permanently established with us
כִּי הוּא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ that he is Adonoy, our God,
וְאֵין זוּלָתוֹ and there is nothing besides Him,
וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ: and that we, Israel, are His people.
הַפּוֹדֵֽנוּ [He] Who liberated us
מִיַּד מְלָכִים from the hand of kings,2He redeemed us from Pharaoh, and saved us from Sichon and Og in the days of Moses and from the thirty-one kings in the days of Joshua.—Etz Yosef
מַלְכֵּֽנוּ הַגּוֹאֲלֵֽנוּ [is] our King, Who redeemed us
מִכַּף כָּל הֶעָרִיצִים: from the grasp of all the tyrants.3“Tyrants” include Amalek and others who wanted to destroy us.—Etz Yosef
הָאֵל [He is] the Almighty
הַנִּפְרָע לָֽנוּ Who exacts payment [punishment]
מִצָּרֵֽינוּ from our oppressors,4The Malbim says that “oppressors” (צרינו) refers to those who actively persecute us whereas “enemies” (אויבינו) refers to those who would rejoice over our misfortune without necessarily contributing to our downfall in an outright manner.
וְהַמְ֒שַׁלֵּם גְּמוּל and brings retribution
לְכָל אֹיְ֒בֵי נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ: on all those who are enemies of our soul.
הָעֹשֶׂה גְדוֹלוֹת He does great things5“Great things” refers to the way God rules according to the laws of nature and “wonders” refers to those things that are classified as miracles.—Siach Yitzchak
עַד אֵין חֵֽקֶר beyond comprehension,
נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת עַד אֵין מִסְפָּר: miracles and wonders without number.
הַשָּׂם נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ בַּחַיִּים He sustains our soul in life6Not only does God sustain our souls in exile, but He also sustains our physical well-being.—Siach Yitzchak
וְלֹא נָתַן לַמּוֹט רַגְלֵֽנוּ and does not allow our feet to slip.
הַמַּדְרִיכֵֽנוּ He makes us tread
עַל בָּמוֹת אֹיְ֒בֵֽינוּ upon the high places of our enemies,
וַיָּֽרֶם קַרְנֵֽנוּ and exalts our strength
עַל כָּל שׂוֹנְ֒אֵֽינוּ: over all who hate us.
הָעֹֽשֶׂה לָּֽנוּ נִסִּים He performed miracles for us
וּנְקָמָה בְּפַרְעֹה and vengeance upon Pharaoh,
אוֹתוֹת וּמוֹפְ֒תִים signs and wonders
בְּאַדְמַת בְּנֵי חָם: in the land of the Hamites.
הַמַּכֶּה בְעֶבְרָתוֹ He slew in His wrath,
כָּל בְּכוֹרֵי מִצְרָֽיִם all the firstborn of Egypt,
וַיּוֹצֵא אֶת עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל and brought out His people, Israel,
מִתּוֹכָם from their midst
לְחֵרוּת עוֹלָם: to everlasting7The redemption from Egypt is the source for all later redemptions; it is the source from which our final and total salvation will spring. We became free, never again to taste the bitterness of spiritual or physical bondage.—Sfas Emes freedom.
הַמַּעֲבִיר בָּנָיו He led His children
בֵּין גִּזְרֵי through the divided parts of
יַם סוּף the Sea of Reeds,
אֶת רוֹדְ֒פֵיהֶם וְאֶת שׂוֹנְ֒אֵיהֶם their pursuers and their enemies
בִּתְהוֹמוֹת טִבַּע: He drowned in its depths.
וְרָאוּ בָנָיו גְּבוּרָתוֹ And His children saw His mighty power—
שִׁבְּ֒חוּ וְהוֹדוּ לִשְׁמוֹ. they praised and gave thanks to His Name,
וּמַלְכוּתוֹ His sovereignty
בְרָצוֹן קִבְּ֒לוּ עֲלֵיהֶם they willingly accepted;
משֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל Moses and the children of Israel
לְךָ עָנוּ שִׁירָה בְּשִׂמְחָה רַבָּה sang unto You with great joy,
וְאָמְ֒רוּ כֻלָּם: and they all said:
מִי כָמֹֽכָה בָּאֵלִם יְהֹוָה “Who is like You among the mighty, Adonoy!
מִי כָּמֹֽכָה Who is like You?
נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּֽדֶשׁ [You are] adorned in holiness,
נוֹרָא תְהִלֹּת עֹֽשֵׂה פֶלֶא: awesome in praise, performing wonders”8Exodus 15:11.
מַלְכוּתְךָ רָאוּ בָנֶֽיךָ Your children beheld Your sovereignty
בּוֹקֵֽעַ יָם לִפְנֵי משֶׁה when You divided the sea before Moses.
זֶה אֵלִי עָנוּ “This is my God,”9Exodus 15:2. they exclaimed,
וְאָמְ֒רוּ: and declared,
יְהֹוָה יִמְלֹךְ לְעֹלָם וָעֶד: “Adonoy will reign forever and ever.”10Exodus 15:18.
וְנֶאֱמַר And it is said,
כִּי פָדָה יְהֹוָה אֶת יַעֲקֹב “For Adonoy has liberated Jacob
וּגְאָלוֹ and redeemed him
מִיַּד חָזָק מִמֶּֽנּוּ. from a hand, mightier than his.”11Jeremiah 31:10.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy
גָּאַל יִשְׂרָאֵל: Who has redeemed Israel.
This is the second of the benedictions that follow the Sh'ma.
הַשְׁכִּיבֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ לְשָׁלוֹם Adonoy our God; make us lie down in peace,
וְהַעֲמִידֵֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ לְחַיִּים our King, raise us again
טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם to good life, and peace12Undisturbed peace, and strength for a new day of vigorous living, are the gifts that night brings and for which we pray to God.—S.R. Hirsch
וּפְרוֹשׂ עָלֵֽינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶֽךָ Spread over us the shelter of Your peace,
וְתַקְּ֒נֵֽנוּ and direct us to better ourselves
בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּ֒פָנֶֽיךָ through Your good counsel;13We particularly ask of Him at night to bless us with wise counsel. Daytime is the time for achievement, but the rest that comes with nightfall is made to allow man to compose his thoughts. By virtue of the complete relaxation It affords, sleep endows the mind and spirit with renewed vigor. We pray therefore for Divine aid so that our nightly rest will help us take wise counsel and affirm worthy resolution for future days.—Avudraham and Siach Yitzchak
וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ מְהֵרָה לְמַֽעַן שְׁמֶֽךָ. and deliver us speedily for Your Name's sake.
וְהָגֵן בַּעֲדֵֽנוּ וְהָסֵר מֵעָלֵֽינוּ Shield us, and remove from us14Shield us from trouble before it comes, and remove it from us if it has already come.—Siach Yitzchak
אוֹיֵב דֶּֽבֶר וְחֶֽרֶב enemies, pestilence, sword,
וְרָעָב וְיָגוֹן famine and sorrow.
וְהָסֵר שָׂטָן מִלְּ֒פָנֵֽינוּ Remove the adversary15The Hebrew word שטן (Satan) used in the Prayer Book refers to the Evil Impulse, the lower passions which are a hindrance to man's pursuit of the nobler aims in life. It is against the dominance of this impulse that the Jew prays. The “adversary,” therefore, is any person, spirit, or Evil Impulse that seduces us to do wrong.—Dover Sholom and others from before us
וּמֵאַחֲרֵֽינוּ and from behind us,
וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶֽיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנוּ. and shelter us in the shadow of Your wings.
כִּי אֵל For, Almighty,
שׁוֹמְ֒רֵֽנוּ וּמַצִּילֵֽנוּ אָֽתָּה You are our Protector and Rescuer,
כִּי אֵל For, Almighty
מֶֽלֶךְ חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אָֽתָּה. You are a gracious and merciful King.
וּשְׁמוֹר צֵאתֵֽנוּ וּבוֹאֵֽנוּ Guard our going out and our coming in
לְחַיִּים וּלְשָׁלוֹם for life and peace
מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם. for now forever.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
שׁוֹמֵר עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַד: Who guards His people Israel forever.
The following prayer was originally a compilation of eighteen verses instituted during the Gaonic era as a substitute for the Shemoneh Esrei. According to Avudraham, the Shemoneh Esrei was omitted because of decrees issued against the Jews that banned them from participating in the Evening Service. These eighteen verses, adopted in place of the Shemoneh Esrei, have remained a part of the Maariv service. Some Halachic commentaries maintain that these verses should not be included in Maariv, because they constitute an interruption between the final blessing after Shema and the Shemoneh Esrei.
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם Blessed is Adonoy forever,
אָמֵן וְאָמֵן: Amein and Amein!16Psalms 89:53.
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה מִצִּיּוֹן Blessed is Adonoy from Zion
שֹׁכֵן יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ Who dwells in Jerusalem,
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ: Praise God.17Psalms 135:21.
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים Blessed is Adonoy, God,
אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל God of Israel
עֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת לְבַדּוֹ: Who alone performs wonders.18Psalms 72:18.
וּבָרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹדוֹ לְעוֹלָם Blessed is the Name of His glory forever
וְיִמָּלֵא כְבוֹדוֹ אֶת כָּל הָאָֽרֶץ and may His glory fill the whole earth;
אָמֵן וְאָמֵן: Amein and Amein!19Psalms 72:19.
יְהִי כְבוֹד יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם The Glory of Adonoy will endure forever;
יִשְׂמַח יְהֹוָה בְּמַעֲשָׂיו: Adonoy will rejoice in His works.20Psalms 104:31.
יְהִי שֵׁם יְהֹוָה מְבֹרָךְ The Name of Adonoy will be blessed
מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם: from now forever.21Psalms 113:2.
כִּי לֹא יִטּשׁ יְהֹוָה אֶת עַמּוֹ For Adonoy will not cast off His people,
בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל for the sake of His great Name,
כִּי הוֹאִיל יְהֹוָה because Adonoy has determined
לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶתְכֶם לוֹ לְעָם: to make you His people.22I Samuel 12:22.
וַיַּרְא כָּל הָעָם And all the people saw it
וַיִּפְּ֒לוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמְ֒רוּ and they fell on their faces, and proclaimed,
יְהֹוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים “Adonoy, He is God!23I Kings 18:39. This verse describes the reaction of the people when they saw the miracle performed by God on behalf of Elijah on Mount Carmel when he disproved and ridiculed the false prophets of Baal.
יְהֹוָה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים: Adonoy, He is God!”
וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה לְמֶֽלֶךְ And Adonoy will be King
עַל כָּל הָאָֽרֶץ over the whole earth;
בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יְהֹוָה אֶחָד on that day Adonoy will be One
וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד: and His Name One.24Zecharyah 14:9.
יְהִי חַסְדְּ֒ךָ יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ Adonoy, may Your kindness be upon us
כַּאֲשֶׁר יִחַֽלְנוּ לָךְ: as we have hoped for You.25Psalms 33:22.
הוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Deliver us, Adonoy, our God,
וְקַבְּ֒צֵֽנוּ מִן הַגּוֹיִם gather us from the nations
לְהוֹדוֹת לְשֵׁם קָדְשֶֽׁךָ to give thanks to Your Holy Name,
לְהִשְׁתַּבֵּֽחַ בִּתְהִלָּתֶֽךָ: to be extolled in Your praise.26I Chronicles 16:35.
כָּל גּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר עָשִֽׂיתָ All the nations which You have made
יָבֹֽאוּ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ will come and bow down
לְפָנֶֽיךָ אֲדֹנָי before You, my Master,
וִיכַבְּ֒דוּ לִשְׁמֶֽךָ: and they will give honor to Your Name.27Psalms 86:9.
כִּי גָדוֹל אַתָּה וְעֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת For You are great and do wondrous things,
אַתָּה אֱלֹהִים לְבַדֶּֽךָ: You alone are God.28Psalms 86:10.
וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ And we,
עַמְּ֒ךָ וְצֹאן מַרְעִיתֶֽךָ Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,
נוֹדֶה לְּךָ לְעוֹלָם will give thanks to You forever,
לְדוֹר וָדוֹר from generation to generation
נְסַפֵּר תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ: we will recount Your praise.29Psalms 79:13.
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה בַּיּוֹם Blessed is Adonoy by day,
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה בַּלָּֽיְלָה Blessed is Adonoy by night,
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה בְּשָׁכְבֵֽנוּ Blessed is Adonoy when we lie down,
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה בְּקוּמֵֽנוּ: Blessed is Adonoy when we rise.
כִּי בְיָדְ֒ךָ For in Your hand
נַפְשׁוֹת הַחַיִּים וְהַמֵּתִים are the souls of the living and the dead:
אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ [as it is written]: for in His hand
נֶֽפֶשׁ כָּל חָי is the soul of every living thing,
וְרֽוּחַ כָּל בְּשַׂר אִישׁ: and the spirit of every human being.30Job 12:10.
בְּיָדְ֒ךָ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי In Your hand, I commit my spirit;
פָּדִֽיתָה אוֹתִי You have liberated me
יְהֹוָה אֵל אֱמֶת: Adonoy, Almighty of truth.31Psalms 31:6.
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַֽיִם Our God in heaven,
יַחֵד שִׁמְךָ reveal the unity of Your Name,
וְקַיֵּם מַלְכוּתְ֒ךָ תָּמִיד preserve Your kingdom always
וּמְלֹךְ עָלֵֽינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: and reign over us forever and ever.
יִרְאוּ עֵינֵֽינוּ May our eyes behold,
וְיִשְׂמַח לִבֵּֽנוּ וְתָגֵל נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ our heart rejoice, and our soul exalt
בִּישׁוּעָתְ֒ךָ בֶּאֱמֶת in Your true deliverance,
בֶּאֱמֹר לְצִיּוֹן when it will be said to Zion:
מָלַךְ אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ: “Your God has begun His reign.”
יְהֹוָה מֶֽלֶךְ יְהֹוָה מָלָךְ “Adonoy is King, Adonoy was King
יְהֹוָה יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: Adonoy will reign for ever and ever”
כִּי הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁלְּ֒ךָ הִיא For the kingdom is Yours
וּלְעֽוֹלְ֒מֵי עַד תִּמְלֹךְ בְּכָבוֹד and to all eternity, You will reign in glory;
כִּי אֵין לָֽנוּ מֶֽלֶךְ אֶלָּא אָֽתָּה: for we have no king except You.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You,
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ בִּכְבוֹדוֹ the King in His glory,
תָּמִיד יִמְלוֹךְ עָלֵֽינוּ will always reign over us
לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד forever and ever,
וְעַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו: and over all His creation.
The Chazzan recites the following half-Kaddish
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא Exalted and sanctified be His great Name
בְּעָלְ֒מָא דִּי בְרָא in the world which He created
כִרְעוּתֵהּ according to His will
וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ and may He rule His kingdom
וְיַצְמַח פּוּרְקָנֵהּ bring forth His redemption
וִיקָרֵב (קֵץ) מְשִׁיחֵהּ. and hasten the coming of His Mashiach.
בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן In your lifetime and in your days,
וּבְחַיֵּי and in the lifetime
דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, of the entire House of Israel,
בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב speedily and in the near future—
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן and say Amein.
יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ May His great Name be blessed
לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְ֒מֵי עָלְ֒מַיָּא forever and for all eternity.
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח Blessed and praised,
וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא glorified, and exalted and uplifted,
וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל honored and elevated and extolled
שְׁמֵהּ דְקוּדְשָׁא, בְּרִיךְ הוּא be the Name of the Holy One, blessed is He;
לְעֵֽלָּא (בעשי"ת וּלְעֵֽלָּא מִכָּל) above (Ten Days of Penitence: far above)
מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא, all the blessings and hymns,
תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא, praises and consolations
דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְ֒מָא, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: which we utter in the world—and say Amein.