Machzor Yom Kippur Ashkenaz Linear, The Morning Prayers, Avinu Malkenu
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אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!⁷⁴
footnotes: ⁷⁴ The Jewish People are referred to in Scripture as Hashem’s slaves (Vayikra 25:42), and as His children (Devorim 14:1). Thus we say to Him, “If we are Your children, we beseech You as our Father; if we are Your slaves, we implore You as our Master and King. Contrary to the view that Hashem the Father is so full of love for His children that He permits the wanton breaking of His commandments to go unpunished, Judaism knows that Hashem the King must be feared and His laws must be obeyed. There are times when a father is unable to do what he would like for his children because of physical or financial limitations. On the other hand, a king has the power to do anything for his subjects if he should so desire. We cry out to Hashem—You are our Father and You desire to help us—You are our King and You have the power to help us!
חָטָֽאנוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ:
we have sinned before You.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father our King!
אֵין לָֽנוּ מֶֽלֶךְ אֶלָּא אָֽתָּה:
we have no King except You.⁷⁵
footnotes: ⁷⁵ Despite our physical banishment and spiritual estrangement—the result of our sins—we still have none other than Hashem to guide our lives and to shape our destiny.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
עֲשֵׂה עִמָּֽנוּ
deal with us [kindly]
לְמַֽעַן שְׁמֶֽךָ:
for the sake of Your Name.⁷⁶
footnotes: ⁷⁶ See Yechezkel 36.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
חַדֵּשׁ עָלֵֽינוּ שָׁנָה טוֹבָה:
renew for us a good year.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
בַּטֵּל מֵעָלֵֽינוּ כָּל גְּזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת:
annul all harsh decrees concerning us.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
בַּטֵּל מַחְשְׁבוֹת שׂוֹנְאֵֽינוּ:
annul the designs of those who hate us.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
הָפֵר עֲצַת אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ:
thwart the plans of our enemies.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
כַּלֵּה כָּל צַר וּמַשְׂטִין מֵעָלֵֽינוּ:
rid us of every oppressor and adversary.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
סְתוֹם פִּיּוֹת מַשְׂטִינֵֽנוּ
close the mouths of our adversaries
וּמְקַטְרִיגֵֽנוּ:
and our accusers.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
כַּלֵּה דֶּֽבֶר וְחֶֽרֶב וְרָעָב וּשְׁבִי
remove pestilence, sword, famine, captivity,
וּמַשְׁחִית וְעָוֹן
destruction and [the burden of] iniquity
מִבְּנֵי בְרִיתֶֽךָ:
from the members of Your covenant.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
מְנַע מַגֵּפָה מִנַּחֲלָתֶֽךָ:
withhold the plague from Your inheritance.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
סְלַח וּמְחַל לְכָל עֲוֹנוֹתֵֽינוּ:
forgive and pardon all our iniquities.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
מְחֵה וְהַעֲבֵר פְּשָׁעֵֽינוּ
blot out and remove our transgressions
וְחַטֹּאתֵֽינוּ מִנֶּֽגֶד עֵינֶֽיךָ:
and sins from before Your eyes.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
מְחוֹק בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים
erase in Your abundant mercy
כָּל שִׁטְרֵי חוֹבוֹתֵֽינוּ:
all records of our liabilities.⁷⁷
footnotes: ⁷⁷ Having just asked that our sins be forgiven and that our transgressions be removed from before His eyes, what are we asking for now? Our earlier pleas were for forgiveness of those sins we committed ourselves. But there are sins for which we are held accountable even though we do not commit them ourselves. One possibility is that of watching while others sin when we may have been able to prevent it. (Chazal say כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִין זֶה לָזֶה. A guarantor is one who countersigns a debt note, undertaking to pay if the borrower defaults. Thus we ask Hashem to erase all our notes of obligation whether as borrower or guarantor. In all instances He is the Extender of credit.) Thus we beseech Hashem to erase the records of our guilt in those instances.—Siach Yitzchok
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
הַחֲזִירֵֽנוּ
bring us back
בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶֽיךָ:
in wholehearted⁷⁸ repentance before You.
footnotes: ⁷⁸ Many repent out of their fear of Hashem. Others repent out of their love for Him. We beseech Hashem to bring us back in “wholehearted” repentance motivated by love, the most perfect form of penitence.—Etz Yosef
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
שְׁלַח רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה
send complete⁷⁹ healing
footnotes: ⁷⁹ We beseech Hashem to heal both the spiritually ill as well as the physically ill. We ask, therefore, for a “complete” healing for the sick among us.—Etz Yosef
לְחוֹלֵי עַמֶּֽךָ:
to the sick among Your people.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
קְרַע רֹֽעַ גְּזַר דִּינֵֽנוּ:
tear up the evil [parts] of our sentence.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
זָכְרֵֽנוּ בְּזִכָּרוֹן טוֹב לְפָנֶֽיךָ:
remember us favorably before You.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
כָּתְבֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר חַיִּים טוֹבִים:
inscribe us in the Book of Good Life.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
כָּתְבֵֽנוּ
inscribe us
בְּסֵֽפֶר גְּאֻלָּה וִישׁוּעָה:
in the Book of Redemption and Deliverance.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
כָּתְבֵֽנוּ
inscribe us
בְּסֵֽפֶר פַּרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה:
in the Book of Maintenance and Sustenance.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
כָּתְבֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר זְכֻיּוֹת:
inscribe us in the Book of Merits.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
כָּתְבֵֽנוּ
inscribe us
בְּסֵֽפֶר סְלִיחָה וּמְחִילָה:
in the Book of Pardon and Forgiveness.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
הַצְמַח לָֽנוּ יְשׁוּעָה בְּקָרוֹב:
cause deliverance to spring forth for us soon.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
הָרֵם קֶֽרֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּֽךָ:
raise up the might of Yisrael Your people.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
הָרֵם קֶֽרֶן מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ:
raise up the might of Your anointed.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
מַלֵּא יָדֵֽינוּ מִבִּרְכוֹתֶֽיךָ:
fill our hands with Your blessings.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
מַלֵּא אֲסָמֵֽינוּ שָׂבָע:
fill our storehouses with abundance.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
שְׁמַע קוֹלֵֽנוּ
hear our voice,
חוּס וְרַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ:
spare us and have compassion upon us.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
קַבֵּל
accept
בְּרַחֲמִים וּבְרָצוֹן אֶת תְּפִלָּתֵֽנוּ:
our prayer with compassion and favor.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
פְּתַח שַׁעֲרֵי שָׁמַֽיִם לִתְפִלָּתֵֽנוּ:
open the gates of heaven to our prayer.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
זָכוֹר כִּי עָפָר אֲנָֽחְנוּ:
remember, that we are dust.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
נָא אַל תְּשִׁיבֵֽנוּ
please do not turn us away
רֵיקָם מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ:
empty-handed from You.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
תְּהֵא הַשָּׁעָה הַזֹּאת
let this hour be
שְׁעַת רַחֲמִים
an hour of compassion
וְעֵת רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ:
and a time of favor before You.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
חֲמוֹל עָלֵֽינוּ
have compassion upon us,
וְעַל עוֹלָלֵֽינוּ וְטַפֵּֽנוּ:
and upon our children and infants.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן
do it for the sake of those
הֲרוּגִים עַל שֵׁם קָדְשֶֽׁךָ:
who were slain for Your Holy Name.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן
do it for the sake of those
טְבוּחִים
who were slaughtered
עַל יִחוּדֶֽךָ:
for [proclaiming] Your Unity.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן
do it for the sake of those
בָּאֵי בָאֵשׁ וּבַמַּֽיִם
who went through fire and water
עַל קִדּוּשׁ שְׁמֶֽךָ:
for the sanctification of Your Name.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
נְקוֹם נִקְמַת דַּם עֲבָדֶֽיךָ הַשָּׁפוּךְ:
avenge the spilled blood of Your servants.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְךָ אִם לֹא לְמַעֲנֵֽנוּ:
do it for Your sake if not for ours.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ:
do it for Your sake and deliver us.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים:
do it for the sake of Your great mercy.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
עֲשֵׂה לְמַֽעַן
do it for the sake
שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא
of Your great, mighty, and awesome Name
שֶׁנִּקְרָא עָלֵֽינוּ:
which is proclaimed upon us.
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ
Our Father, our King!
חָנֵּֽנוּ וַעֲנֵֽנוּ
favor us and answer us
כִּי אֵין בָּֽנוּ מַעֲשִׂים
for we have no accomplishments;
עֲשֵׂה עִמָּֽנוּ צְדָקָה וָחֶֽסֶד
deal with us charitably and kindly
וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ:
and deliver us.
יִתְגַּדַּלוְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא
Exalted and sanctified be His great Name
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא
in the world which He created
כִרְעוּתֵהּ
according to His will;
וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ
and may He rule His Kingdom
בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן
in your lifetime and in your days,
וּבְחַיֵּי
and in the lifetime
דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל,
of the entire House of Yisrael,
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 וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא:
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 וּלְעֵֽלָּא
far above
מִכָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא,
all the blessings and hymns,
תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא,
praises and consolations
דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
which we utter in the world—and say Amein.
תִּתְקַבֵּל
May there be acceptance
צְלוֹתְהוֹן וּבָעוּתְהוֹן
of the prayers and supplications
דְּכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל
of the entire House of Yisrael
קֳדָם אֲבוּהוֹן דִּי בִשְׁמַיָּא
before their Father in heaven.
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
And say, Amein.
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא
May there be abundant peace from heaven
וְחַיִּים
and life
עָלֵֽינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל
for us and for all Yisrael,
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
—and say Amein.
עוֹשֶׂה הַשָּׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו
He Who makes the peace in His high heavens
הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם
may He, make peace
עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל
for us and or all Yisrael,
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
and say, Amein.
בשני בשבת:
On Monday:
הַיּוֹם יוֹם שֵׁנִי בַּשַּׁבָּת
Today is the second day of the week,
שֶׁבּוֹ הָיוּ הַלְוִיִּם אוֹמְרִים
on which the Levites used to recite
בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ:
in the Holy Temple:
שִׁיר מִזְמוֹר לִבְנֵי קֹֽרַח:
A song, a psalm by the sons of Korach.
גָּדוֹל יְהֹוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד
Adonoy is great and highly extolled
בְּעִיר אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ
in the city of our God,
הַר קָדְשׁוֹ:
the mountain of His Sanctuary.
יְפֵה נוֹף
Beautiful in its panoramic vista,
מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָֽרֶץ הַר צִיּוֹן
the joy of all the earth is Mount Tziyon,
יַרְכְּתֵי צָפוֹן
on the northern extremities (of Yerushalayim);
קִרְיַת מֶֽלֶךְ רָב:
the city of the great King.
אֱלֹהִים בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ
God, in its palaces,
נוֹדַע לְמִשְׂגָּב:
has become known as a Stronghold.
כִּי הִנֵּה הַמְּלָכִים נוֹעֲדוּ
For behold, the kings assembled,
עָבְרוּ יַחְדָּו:
they passed by together.
הֵֽמָּה רָאוּ כֵּן תָּמָֽהוּ
They saw and were astounded,
נִבְהֲלוּ נֶחְפָּֽזוּ:
they panicked and fled in haste.
רְעָדָה אֲחָזָֽתַם שָׁם
Trembling siezed them there,
חִיל כַּיּוֹלֵדָה:
like the pangs of a woman in labor.
בְּרֽוּחַ קָדִים
With an east wind
תְּשַׁבֵּר אֳנִיּוֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ:
You smashed the ships of Tarshish.
כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁמַֽעְנוּ כֵּן רָאִֽינוּ
As we heard, so we saw
בְּעִיר יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת
in the city of Adonoy of Hosts,
בְּעִיר אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ
in the city of our God;
אֱלֹהִים יְכוֹנְנֶֽהָ עַד עוֹלָם סֶֽלָה:
may God establish it for eternity, Selah.
דִּמִּֽינוּ אֱלֹהִים חַסְדֶּֽךָ
We hoped, God, for Your lovingkindness
בְּקֶֽרֶב הֵיכָלֶֽךָ:
in the midst of Your Sanctuary.
כְּשִׁמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כֵּן תְּהִלָּתְךָ
As Your Name, God, so is Your praise—
עַל קַצְוֵי אֶֽרֶץ
to the ends of the earth;
צֶֽדֶק מָלְאָה יְמִינֶֽךָ:
Your right hand is full of righteousness.
יִשְׂמַח הַר צִיּוֹן
Let Mount Tziyon rejoice,
תָּגֵֽלְנָה בְּנוֹת יְהוּדָה
let the daughters of Yehudah exult,
לְמַֽעַן מִשְׁפָּטֶֽיךָ:
because of Your judgments.
סֹֽבּוּ צִיּוֹן וְהַקִּיפֽוּהָ
Rally around Tziyon and encircle her,
סִפְרוּ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ:
count her towers.
שִֽׁיתוּ לִבְּכֶם לְחֵילָה
Consider well her ramparts,
פַּסְּגוּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶֽיהָ
raise high her citadels,
לְמַֽעַן תְּסַפְּרוּ
that you may recount it
לְדוֹר אַחֲרוֹן:
to future generations.
כִּי זֶה אֱלֹהִים אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ
That this is God, our God
עוֹלָם וָעֶד
forever and ever,
הוּא יְנַהֲגֵֽנוּ עַל מוּת:
He will lead us like children.
ברביעי בשבת
On Wednesday:
הַיּוֹם יוֹם רְבִיעִי בַּשַּׁבָּת
Today is the fourth day of the week,
שֶׁבּוֹ הָיוּ הַלְוִיִּם אוֹמְרִים
on which the Levites used to recite
בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ:
in the Holy Temple:
אֵל נְקָמוֹת יְהֹוָה
Almighty of vengeance, Adonoy,
אֵל נְקָמוֹת הוֹפִֽיעַ:
Almighty of vengeance, reveal Yourself.
הִנָּשֵׂא שֹׁפֵט הָאָֽרֶץ
Arise Judge of the earth,
הָשֵׁב גְּמוּל עַל גֵּאִים:
repay the arrogant their just reward.
עַד מָתַי רְשָׁעִים
How long shall the wicked—
יְהֹוָה
Adonoy—
עַד מָתַי רְשָׁעִים יַעֲלֹֽזוּ:
how long shall the wicked exult?
יַבִּֽיעוּ יְדַבְּרוּ עָתָק
They express, they speak with arrogance;
יִתְאַמְּרוּ כָּל פֹּֽעֲלֵי אָֽוֶן:
all the evildoers are boastful.
עַמְּךָ יְהֹוָה יְדַכְּאוּ
Adonoy, they crush Your people
וְנַחֲלָתְךָ יְעַנּוּ:
and Your heritage they oppress.
אַלְמָנָה וְגֵר יַהֲרֹֽגוּ
The widow and stranger they kill,
וִיתוֹמִים יְרַצֵּֽחוּ:
and orphans they murder.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא יִרְאֶה יָהּ
And they say, “God does not see,
וְלֹא יָבִין אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב:
the God of Yaakov is not concerned.”
בִּֽינוּ
Consider,
בֹּעֲרִים בָּעָם
[you] stupid [ones] among the people,—
וּכְסִילִים מָתַי תַּשְׂכִּֽילוּ:
and you fools when will you become wise?
הֲנֹֽטַע אֹֽזֶן הֲלֹא יִשְׁמָע
He Who implanted the ear, does He not hear?
אִם יוֹצֵר עַֽיִן הֲלֹא יַבִּיט:
He Who formed the eye, does He not see?
הֲיֹסֵר גּוֹיִם
He Who chastises nations,
הֲלֹא יוֹכִֽיחַ
does He not reprove—
הַמְלַמֵּד אָדָם דָּֽעַת:
He that teaches man knowledge?
יְהֹוָה יֹדֵֽעַ מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָדָם
Adonoy knows the thoughts of men,
כִּי הֵֽמָּה הָֽבֶל:
that they are vanity.
אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּֽבֶר
Fortunate is the man
אֲשֶׁר תְּיַסְּרֶֽנּוּ יָהּ
whom You chastise, God,
וּמִתּוֹרָתְךָ תְלַמְּדֶֽנּוּ:
and whom You instruct from Your Torah.
לְהַשְׁקִיט לוֹ מִֽימֵי רָע
To grant him tranquility from days of evil,
עַד יִכָּרֶה לָרָשָׁע שָֽׁחַת:
until the pit is dug for the wicked.
כִּי לֹא יִטּשׁ יְהֹוָה עַמּוֹ
for Adonoy will not abandon His people
וְנַחֲלָתוֹ לֹא יַעֲזֹב:
and His inheritance, He will not forsake.
כִּי עַד צֶֽדֶק יָשׁוּב מִשְׁפָּט
For justice shall return unto righteousness,
וְאַחֲרָיו כָּל יִשְׁרֵי לֵב:
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
מִי יָקוּם לִי עִם מְרֵעִים
Who will rise up for me against the wicked,
מִי יִתְיַצֵּב לִי
who will stand up for me
עִם פֹּֽעֲלֵי אָֽוֶן:
against the evildoers?
לוּלֵי יְהֹוָה עֶזְרָֽתָה לִּי
Had Adonoy not been my help,
כִּמְעַט
in an instant
שָׁכְנָה דוּמָה נַפְשִׁי:
my soul would have dwelt in the silent grave
אִם אָמַֽרְתִּי מָֽטָה רַגְלִי
If [Whenever] I said, my foot has slipped,
חַסְדְּךָ יְהֹוָה יִסְעָדֵֽנִי:
Your kindliness, Adonoy upheld me.
בְּרֹב שַׂרְעַפַּי
When (worrisome) thoughts multiply
בְּקִרְבִּי
within me,
תַּנְחוּמֶֽיךָ יְשַׁעַשְׁעוּ נַפְשִׁי:
Your consolations soothe my soul.
הַיְחָבְרְךָ כִּסֵּא הַוּוֹת
Can a tribunal of evil have accord with You—
יֹצֵר עָמָל עֲלֵי חֹק:
[a tribunal] that makes iniquity into law?
יָגֽוֹדּוּ עַל נֶֽפֶשׁ צַדִּיק
They gang up against the life of the righteous,
וְדָם נָקִי יַרְשִֽׁיעוּ:
and blood of the innocent they condemn.
וַיְהִי יְהֹוָה לִי לְמִשְׂגָּב
Adonoy has been my stronghold,
וֵאלֹהַי לְצוּר מַחְסִי:
my God the Rock of my refuge.
וַיָּֽשֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶם אֶת אוֹנָם
He turns their violence against them,
וּבְרָעָתָם
and with their own wickedness,
יַצְמִיתֵם
destroys them;
יַצְמִיתֵם יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ:
Adonoy, my God, destroys them.
לְכוּ נְרַנְּנָה לַיהֹוָה
Come let us sing to Adonoy;
נָרִֽיעָה
let us shout for joy
לְצוּר יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ:
to the Rock of our Deliverance.
נְקַדְּמָה פָנָיו בְּתוֹדָה
Let us greet Him with thanksgiving;
בִּזְמִרוֹת נָרִֽיעַ לוֹ:
with song let us shout for joy to Him.
כִּי אֵל גָּדוֹל יְהֹוָה
for a great Almighty is Adonoy;
וּמֶֽלֶךְ גָּדוֹל עַל כָּל אֱלֹהִים:
a great King over all godlike beings.
בחמישי בשבת:
On Thursday:
הַיּוֹם יוֹם חֲמִישִׁי בַּשַּׁבָּת
Today is the fifth day of the week,
שֶׁבּוֹ הָיוּ הַלְוִיִּם אוֹמְרִים
on which the Levites used to recite
בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ:
in the Holy Temple:
לַמְנַצֵּֽחַ
To Him Who grants victory—
עַל הַגִּתִּית לְאָסָף:
upon the Gittis, a psalm of Assaf:
הַרְנִֽינוּ לֵאלֹהִים עֻזֵּנוּ
Sing joyously to God, our strength,
הָרִֽיעוּ לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב:
shout for joy to the God of Yaakov.
שְׂאוּ זִמְרָה וּתְנוּ תֹף
Take up the hymn, sound the drum,
כִּנּוֹר נָעִים עִם נָֽבֶל:
the pleasant harp and the lute.
תִּקְעוּ בַחֹֽדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר
Blow the shofar on the Rosh Chodesh,
בַּכֶּֽסֶה לְיוֹם חַגֵּֽנוּ:
at the appointed time for our festive day.
כִּי חֹק לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא
For it is a statute for Yisrael,
מִשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב:
a [day of] judgement of the God of Yaakov.
עֵדוּת בִּיהוֹסֵף שָׂמוֹ
As a testimony for Yehosef, He ordained it
בְּצֵאתוֹ עַל אֶֽרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם
when he went out over the land of Mitzrayim,
שְׂפַת לֹא יָדַֽעְתִּי אֶשְׁמָע:
[where] an unfamiliar language I heard.
הֲסִירֽוֹתִי מִסֵּֽבֶל שִׁכְמוֹ
From the burden, I removed his shoulder,
כַּפָּיו מִדּוּד תַּעֲבֹֽרְנָה:
his hands were removed from the cauldron.
בַּצָּרָה קָרָֽאתָ וָאֲחַלְּצֶֽךָּ
In distress you called out, and I released you,
אֶעֶנְךָ
I answered you
בְּסֵֽתֶר
[though you called] in secret
רַֽעַם
[I answered you] thunderously;
אֶבְחָנְךָ עַל מֵי מְרִיבָה סֶֽלָה:
I tested you at the waters of Merivah. Selah.
שְׁמַע עַמִּי וְאָעִֽידָה בָּךְ
Hear, My people, I will testify about you,
יִשְׂרָאֵל אִם תִּשְׁמַע לִי:
Yisrael, if you would just listen to Me.
לֹא יִהְיֶה בְךָ אֵל זָר
Let no strange god be within you,
וְלֹא תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה לְאֵל נֵכָר:
nor bow before a foreign god.
אָנֹכִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ
I am Adonoy, your God,
הַמַּעַלְךָ
Who brought you up
מֵאֶֽרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם
from the land of Mitzrayim,
הַרְחֶב פִּֽיךָ וַאֲמַלְאֵֽהוּ:
open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
וְלֹא שָׁמַע עַמִּי לְקוֹלִי
But My people did not heed My voice,
וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא אָֽבָה לִי:
and Yisrael did not want Me.
וָאֲשַׁלְּחֵֽהוּ בִּשְׁרִירוּת לִבָּם
So I sent them to follow their heart's desires,
יֵלְכוּ בְּמוֹעֲצוֹתֵיהֶם:
let them follow their own devices.
לוּ עַמִּי שֹׁמֵֽעַ לִי
If only My people would heed Me,
יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּדְרָכַי יְהַלֵּֽכוּ:
if Yisrael would walk in My ways.
כִּמְעַט אוֹיְבֵיהֶם אַכְנִֽיעַ
I would immediately subdue their enemies,
וְעַל צָרֵיהֶם אָשִׁיב יָדִי:
and turn My hand against their tormentors.
מְשַׂנְאֵי יְהֹוָה
Those who cause hate of Adonoy
יְכַחֲשׁוּ לוֹ
deceive [pretend obedience to] Him,
וִיהִי עִתָּם
but their time (of punishment)
לְעוֹלָם:
will be forever.
וַיַּאֲכִילֵֽהוּ
But He would feed him (Yisrael)
מֵחֵֽלֶב חִטָּה
from the cream of the wheat,
וּמִצּוּר
and from the rock,
דְּבַשׁ אַשְׂבִּיעֶֽךָּ:
I would sate you with honey.
בשבת קודש:
On Shabbos:
הַיּוֹם שַׁבָּת קֹֽדֶשׁ
Today is the holy Shabbos
שֶׁבּוֹ הָיוּ הַלְוִיִּם אוֹמְרִים
on which the Levites used to recite
בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ:
in the Holy Temple:
מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר לְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת:
A psalm, a song for the Shabbos day.
טוֹב לְהֹדוֹת לַיהֹוָה
It is good to thank Adonoy,
וּלְזַמֵּר לְשִׁמְךָ עֶלְיוֹן:
and sing praise to Your Name, Most High.
לְהַגִּיד בַּבֹּֽקֶר חַסְדֶּֽךָ
To relate Your kindliness in the morning,
וֶאֱמוּנָתְךָ בַּלֵּילוֹת:
and Your faithfulness in the nights.
עֲלֵי־עָשׂוֹר וַעֲלֵי־נָֽבֶל
Upon a ten-stringed instrument and lute,
עֲלֵי הִגָּיוֹן בְּכִנּוֹר:
in meditation upon the harp.
כִּי שִׂמַּחְתַּֽנִי יְהֹוָה
For You have given me joy, Adonoy,
בְּפָעֳלֶֽךָ
with Your deeds,
בְּמַעֲשֵׂי יָדֶֽיךָ אֲרַנֵּן:
at the work of Your hands I sing joyously.
מַה־גָּדְלוּ מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ יְהֹוָה
How great are Your works, Adonoy;
מְאֹד עָמְקוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ:
how infinitely profound are Your thoughts.
אִישׁ־בַּֽעַר לֹא יֵדָע
An empty-headed man cannot know,
וּכְסִיל לֹא־יָבִין אֶת־זֹאת:
nor does a fool understand this:
בִּפְרֹֽחַ רְשָׁעִים כְּמוֹ עֵֽשֶׂב
When the wicked bloom like grass,
וַיָּצִֽיצוּ כָּל־פֹּֽעֲלֵי אָֽוֶן
and all the evildoers blossom—
לְהִשָּׁמְדָם עֲדֵי־עַד:
it is so that they may be destroyed forever.
וְאַתָּה מָרוֹם לְעֹלָם יְהֹוָה:
But You will remain on high forever, Adonoy,
כִּי הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה
For behold, Your enemies, Adonoy;
כִּי־הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶֽיךָ יֹאבֵֽדוּ
behold, Your enemies shall perish;
יִתְפָּרְדוּ כָּל־פֹּֽעֲלֵי אָֽוֶן:
dispersed shall be all evildoers.
וַתָּֽרֶם כִּרְאֵים קַרְנִי
You uplifted my horn like that of a unicorn;
בַּלֹּתִי בְּשֶֽׁמֶן רַעֲנָן:
I am saturated with fresh oil.
וַתַּבֵּט עֵינִי
My eye has seen [the defeat of]
בְּשׁוּרָי
those who spy on me;
בַּקָּמִים עָלַי מְרֵעִים
of the wicked who rise against me,
תִּשְׁמַֽעְנָה אָזְנָי:
my ears have heard [that they are doomed].
צַדִּיק כַּתָּמָר יִפְרָח
The righteous will blossom like a date palm,
כְּאֶֽרֶז בַּלְּבָנוֹן יִשְׂגֶּה:
like a cedar in Lebanon, he will grow tall.
שְׁתוּלִים בְּבֵית יְהֹוָה
Planted in the House of Adonoy,
בְּחַצְרוֹת אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ
in the Courtyards of our God
יַפְרִֽיחוּ:
they will blossom.
עוֹד יְנוּבוּן בְּשֵׂיבָה
They will still be fruitful in old age;
דְּשֵׁנִים וְרַעֲנַנִּים יִהְיוּ:
they will be full of sap and freshness.
לְהַגִּיד כִּי־יָשָׁר יְהֹוָה
To declare that Adonoy is upright;
צוּרִי
He is my Stronghold;
וְלֹא־עַוְלָֽתָה בּוֹ:
in Whom there is no injustice.
לְדָוִד
By Dovid:
יְהֹוָה אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי
Adonoy is my light and my salvation,
מִמִּי אִירָא
whom shall I fear?
יְהֹוָה מָעוֹז חַיַּי
Adonoy is the strength⁸⁰ of my life,
footnotes: ⁸⁰ Rav S.R. Hirsch translates, “Adonoy is the source of my life’s strength,” thus Dovid declares that Hashem is the fount from which his life derives its power to resist all foes.
מִמִּי אֶפְחָד:
of whom shall I be afraid?
בִּקְרֹב עָלַי מְרֵעִים
When evildoers approach me
לֶאֱכֹל אֶת בְּשָׂרִי
to devour my flesh—
צָרַי וְאֹיְבַי לִי
my tormentors and my foes
הֵֽמָּה כָשְׁלוּ וְנָפָֽלוּ:
they stumble and fall.
אִם תַּחֲנֶה עָלַי מַחֲנֶה
If an army should encamp against me,
לֹא יִירָא לִבִּי
my heart would not fear;
אִם תָּקוּם עָלַי מִלְחָמָה
if war were to rise against me
בְּזֹאת אֲנִי בוֹטֵֽחַ:
in this⁸¹ I trust.
footnotes: ⁸¹ Dovid says that he trusts in the declaration stated in the opening verse, “Adonoy is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”—Rashi, Radak
אַחַת שָׁאַֽלְתִּי מֵאֵת יְהֹוָה
One thing I request of Adonoy,
אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ
[only] that shall I seek:
שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית יְהֹוָה
that I may dwell⁸² in the House of Adonoy
footnotes: ⁸² The literal translation of שִׁבְתִּי is “my sitting.” The Talmud states that “no man may ‘sit’ in the courtyard of the Temple except for the kings of the House of Dovid.—Maseches Soteh 40b
כָּל יְמֵי חַיַּי
all the days of my life,
לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹֽעַם יְהֹוָה
to behold the pleasantness of Adonoy,
וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ:
and to meditate in His Sanctuary.
כִּי יִצְפְּנֵֽנִי בְּסֻכֹּה
For He will hide me in His Tabernacle⁸³
footnotes: ⁸³ The Vilna Gaon comments that the commandment of Succos is implied in this verse and the next.
בְּיוֹם רָעָה
on the day of distress,
יַסְתִּרֵֽנִי בְּסֵֽתֶר אָהֳלוֹ
He will conceal me in the shelter of His Tent,
בְּצוּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי:
upon a rock He will lift me.
וְעַתָּה יָרוּם רֹאשִׁי
And now my head is raised high
עַל אֹיְבַי סְבִיבוֹתָי
above my enemies around me;⁸⁴
footnotes: ⁸⁴ Dovid declares, “Because I look up to Hashem in every aspect of my existence, I am so exalted that no enemy can harm me.—S.R. Hirsch
וְאֶזְבְּחָה בְאָהֳלוֹ
and I will offer in His Tent,
זִבְחֵי
sacrifices
תְרוּעָה
[accompanied] with trumpets of joy;
אָשִֽׁירָה וַאֲזַמְּרָה לַיהֹוָה:
I will sing and chant to Adonoy.
שְׁמַע יְהֹוָה קוֹלִי אֶקְרָא
Adonoy, hear my voice⁸⁵ when I call;
footnotes: ⁸⁵ This verse alludes to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. “Hear my voice,” refers to Rosh Hashana when we sound the shofar. The word “my voice (sound)” refers to the “voice” of the shofar. “When I call” refers to Yom Kippur, about which Yeshaya (55:6) said, “call to Him when He is near.”—Siddur HaGra
וְחָנֵּֽנִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי:
be gracious to me and answer me.
לְךָ אָמַר לִבִּי
Of You, my heart has said,
בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָי
“Seek My Presence”;
אֶת פָּנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֲבַקֵּשׁ:
Your Presence, Adonoy I will seek.
אַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶֽיךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי
Conceal not Your Presence from me,
אַל תַּט בְּאַף עַבְדֶּֽךָ
do not turn away Your servant in anger.
עֶזְרָתִי הָיִֽיתָ
You have been my help;
אַל תִּטְּשֵֽׁנִי וְאַל תַּעַזְבֵֽנִי
neither cast me off nor abandon me,
אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי:
God of my deliverance.
כִּי אָבִי וְאִמִּי
Altough my father and mother
עֲזָבֽוּנִי
abandon⁸⁶ me,
footnotes: ⁸⁶ Even if I were so depraved that my own mother and father would abandon me to my own devices, Hashem would still gather me up and believe in my ability to mend my ways.—S.R. Hirsch
וַיהֹוָה יַאַסְפֵֽנִי:
Adonoy will gather me up.
הוֹרֵֽנִי יְהֹוָה דַּרְכֶּֽךָ
Adonoy, teach me Your way,
וּנְחֵֽנִי בְּאֹֽרַח מִישׁוֹר
and lead me in the path of uprightness,
לְמַֽעַן שׁוֹרְרָי:
because of my watchful foes.⁸⁷
footnotes: ⁸⁷ His enemies. Dovid asks for Divine help that he be saved even from the mere semblance of wrongdoing so that his foes should not be able to rejoice over his faults.—S.R. Hirsch
אַל תִּתְּנֵֽנִי
Do not deliver me
בְּנֶֽפֶשׁ צָרָי
to the will of my tormentors,
כִּי קָֽמוּ בִי עֵֽדֵי שֶֽׁקֶר
for false witnesses have risen against me,
וִיפֵֽחַ חָמָס:
who breathe violence.
לוּלֵא הֶאֱמַֽנְתִּי לִרְאוֹת
Had I not believed⁸⁸ that I would see
footnotes: ⁸⁸ “These false witnesses would have destroyed me had I not believed that I would see the goodness of Hashem in the land of the living.”—Rashi, Radak
בְּטוּב יְהֹוָה
the goodness of Adonoy
בְּאֶֽרֶץ חַיִּים:
in the land of living.⁸⁹
footnotes: ⁸⁹ There are various interpretations of the “Land of the living.” Some hold that it refers to the present world in which we live—Metsudas Tziyon; Ramban holds that it refers to the World-to-Come; and Malbim says that it refers to Eretz Yisroel.
חזן: קַוֵּה אֶל יְהֹוָה
Hope to Adonoy,
חֲזַק וְיַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּךָ
be strong and He will give you courage;
וְקַוֵּה אֶל יְהֹוָה:
and hope to Adonoy.