It is our obligation to praise

the Master of all,

to ascribe greatness

to the Creator of [the world in]

the beginning:

that He has not made us

like the nations of the lands,

and has not positioned us

like the families of the earth;

that He has not assigned

our portion like theirs,

nor our lot like that of all their multitudes.

For they prostrate themselves

to vanity and nothingness,

and pray to a god that cannot deliver.

But we bow, prostrate ourselves,

and offer thanks

before the Supreme King of kings,

the Holy One blessed is He,

Who spreads the heavens,

and establishes the earth,

and the seat of His glory

is in the heaven above,

and the abode of His invincible might

is in the loftier heights.

He is our God, there is nothing else.

Our King is true, all else is insignificant,

as it is written in His Torah:

“And You shall know this day

and take into your heart

that Adonoy is God

in the heavens above

and upon the earth below;

there is nothing else.”

Our God and God of our fathers,

be with the mouths of those³⁰

footnotes: ³⁰ See Shemos 4:15. Hashem said to Moshe, when he was reluctant to appear before Pharaoh, “אָנֹכִי אֶהְיֶה עִם פִּיךָ וְעִם פִּיהוּ, I will be with your mouth, and with his (Aharon’s) mouth” when you speak to Pharaoh.

who have been sent by Your people

the House of Yisrael,

who stand to offer fervent prayer

and supplication before You,

in behalf of Your people, the House of Yisrael.

Instruct them what to say,

teach them what they shall speak,

disclose to them what they shall ask,

make known to them

how they may glorify You.

In the light of Your countenance

may they walk,

[their] knee, unto You may they bend,

Your people,

with their mouths, may they bless,

and from the blessings of Your mouth,

may they all be blessed.

Your people, they lead into Your Presence,

and from their midst,³¹ they approach You;

footnotes: ³¹ This is based on the fact that the Chazzan stands in the middle of the synagogue, as he prays, with the congregation on both sides of him.

the eyes of Your people are fixed on them,

and their eyes³² look longingly to You.

footnotes: ³² This refers to the eyes of the Chazzan, and is based on Midrash Tehillim 106:1, שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר יו‍ֹרֵד לִפְנֵי הַתֵּבָה לְפִי שֶׁעֵינֵיהֶם שֶׁל צִבּוּר תְּלוּיו‍ֹת בּו‍ֹ וְעֵינָיו תְּלוּיּו‍ֹת בְּהקב"ה שֶׁהוּא שׁו‍ֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּתָם. “The Chazzan descends to the stand, for the eyes of the congregation are fixed on him, and his eyes are fixed on the Holy One, blessed be He, Who hears prayer.

They approach the Holy Ark in awe,

to appease anger and wrath;

and Your people surround them like a wall,

and You, from the heavens

look upon them with compassion.

They lift their eyes to You in heaven,

their hearts are poured out before You

as water,

and You, [please] hear [their prayer]

from the heavens.

May they not stammer with their tongue,

nor become entangled in their speech,

may they not be ashamed

of those who rely on them,³³

footnotes: ³³ This refers to the congregations on whose behalf they are sent. They ask not to be humiliated by the collective sins of the congregations they represent. Another version is that “בְּמַשְׁעֵנָם” refers to Hashem, upon Whom they all rely. The Chazzan thus prays that he not be ashamed before Hashem.

and may they not bring disgrace

to their multitude [their congregation];

and may their mouths never say a word

that is not according to Your will.

For

those to whom You are favorably disposed,

Adonoy, our God,

they have truly found favor,

and those upon whom You have compassion,

they have truly found compassion.

For we know, Adonoy, our God,

that You will show favor

to whom You will show favor,

and that You will be compassionate

to whom You will be compassionate.

As it is written in Your Torah:

And He said:

“I will cause to pass over

all My goodness before you,

and I will proclaim the Name, Adonoy

in your presence;

“I will show favor

to whom I show favor,

and I will be compassionate

to whom I will be compassionate.”³⁴

footnotes: ³⁴ Shemos 33:19.

And it is said:

“Let them not be ashamed through me

those who wait for You,

my Master, God of Hosts;

let them not be disgraced through me,

those who seek You, God of Yisrael.”³⁵

footnotes: ³⁵ Tehillim 69:7.

I hope in Almighty, I implore His Presence,

I ask of Him

to grant me eloquent speech,

so that in the congregation of the people,

I might sing of His might

and utter joyful songs

praising His deeds.

The arrangements of thoughts belong to man,

but [only] from God, comes eloquent speech.

My Master, open my lips

and my mouth will declare Your praise.

May the words of my mouth be acceptable

and the thoughts of my heart — before You

Adonoy, my Rock and my Redeemer.

We therefore put our hope in You,

Adonoy our God,

to soon behold the glory of Your might

in banishing idolatry from the earth;

and the false gods

will be utterly exterminated

to perfect the world

as the kingdom of Shadai.

And all mankind will invoke Your Name,

to turn back to You,

all the wicked of the earth.

They will realize, and know,

all the inhabitants of the world,

that to You every knee must bend,

every tongue must swear allegiance to You.

Before You, Adonoy, our God,

they will bow and prostrate themselves,

and to the glory of Your Name give honor.

And they will accept upon themselves

the yoke of Your kingdom,

and You will reign over them, soon,

forever and ever.

For the kingdom is Yours,

and to all eternity You will reign in glory,

as it is written in Your Torah:

“Adonoy will reign forever and ever.”

“He beheld no iniquity in Yaakov,

nor did He see wrongdoing in Yisrael;

Adonoy, His God is with him,

and the love of the king is among them.”

And it is said:

“And He was King in Yeshurun,

with the gathering of the heads of the people,

the tribes of Yisrael were united.”

And in Your holy words it is written:

“For the kingship is Adonoy’s,

and He rules over nations.”

And it is said:

“Adonoy has begun His reign,

He has clothed Himself in majesty;

Adonoy has clothed Himself,

He has girded Himself with strength.

He has also firmly established the world

so that it cannot be moved.”

And it is said:

“Lift up your heads,—gates,

and be uplifted

entranceways to eternity,

so that the King of Glory may enter.

Who is this King of Glory?

Adonoy, strong and mighty;

Adonoy, the Mighty One in battle.

Lift up your heads,—gates,

and lift up entranceways to eternity,

so that the King of Glory may enter.

Who is He, this King of Glory?

Adonoy Tzevaos,

He is the King of Glory, forever.”

And by the hand of Your servants,

the Prophets

it is written:

“thus said Adonoy,

King of Yisrael and its Redeemer,

Adonoy Tzevaos:

“I am the first and I am the last;

and beside Me, there is no God.”

And it is said:

“And deliverers will go up to Mount Tziyon

to judge the mount of Esau,

and the kingdom will be Adonoy’s.”

And it is said:

“And Adonoy will be King

over the whole earth;

on that day

Adonoy will be One and His Name One.”

And in Your Torah it is written:

“Hear, Yisrael:

Adonoy is our God

Adonoy is One!”

Our God and God of our fathers,

reign over the entire world

with Your glory,

and be uplifted over all the earth

with Your honor,

and appear

in the splendor of Your majestic might

over all who dwell

in the inhabited world of Your earth;

so everything that has been made will know

that You have made it,

and it will be understood

by everything that was formed

that You have formed it.

And they will say

everyone who has breath in his nostrils,

“Adonoy, God of Yisrael is King

and His Kingship rules over all.

(Our God and God of our fathers,

be pleased with our rest)

Sanctify us with Your commandments

and give our share in Your Torah;

satisfy us from Your goodness

and gladden us with Your deliverance,

(And give us as our inheritance

Adonoy our God

with love and with pleasure Your holy Shabbos;

and may Yisrael rest thereon—

they who are sanctifiers of Your Name)

and purify our hearts to serve You in truth,

for You are the true God,

and Your word is true and enduring forever.

Blessed are You Adonoy,

King over all the earth,

Sanctifier

(of Shabbos and)

of Yisrael and the Day of Remembrance.

On this day, the world came into being;³⁶

footnotes: ³⁶ There is a difference of opinion in the Talmud, Maseches Rosh Hashana 10b regarding the day in which the world was created. This prayer follows the opinion of Rabbi Elazar who maintains that Hashem created the world in Tishrei.

On this day, He makes stand in judgment—

all the creatures of the worlds—

whether as children, or as servants;

if as children,

have compassion on us

as a father has compassion on his children!

If as servants,

our eyes are fixed on You

until You favor us,

and bring forth our judgment as the light,

Revered and Holy One!

May the utterance of our lips

be pleasing unto You,

Almighty, Most High and Uplifted,

Who understands, and gives ear,

Who perceives and listens

to the sound of our shofar blast,

and accept with compassion and desire

our acknowledgments of Your sovereignty.