The following prayer was originally a compilation of eighteen verses instituted during the Gaonic era as a substitute for theShemoneh Esrei.According to Avudraham, theShemoneh Esreiwas omitted because of decrees issued against the Jews that banned them from participating in the Evening Service. These eighteen verses, adopted in place of theShemoneh Esrei,have remained a part of theMaarivservice. Some Halachic commentaries maintain that these verses should not be included inMaariv,because they constitute an interruption between the final blessing after Shema and theShemoneh Esrei.**

Blessed is Adonoy forever, Amein and Amein!¹⁶ Blessed is Adonoy from Zion Who dwells in Jerusalem, Praise God.¹⁷ Blessed is Adonoy, God, God of Israel Who alone performs wonders.¹⁸ Blessed is the Name of His glory forever and may His glory fill the whole earth; Amein and Amein!¹⁹ The Glory of Adonoy will endure forever; Adonoy will rejoice in His works.²⁰ The Name of Adonoy will be blessed from now forever.²¹ For Adonoy will not cast off His people, for the sake of His great Name, because Adonoy has determined to make you His people.²² And all the people saw it and they fell on their faces, and proclaimed, “Adonoy, He is God!²³ Adonoy, He is God!” And Adonoy will be King over the whole earth; on that day Adonoy will be One and His Name One.²⁴ Adonoy, may Your kindness be upon us as we have hoped for You.²⁵ Deliver us, Adonoy, our God, gather us from the nations to give thanks to Your Holy Name, to be extolled in Your praise.²⁶ All the nations which You have made will come and bow down before You, my Master, and they will give honor to Your Name.²⁷ For You are great and do wondrous things, You alone are God.²⁸ And we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will give thanks to You forever, from generation to generation we will recount Your praise.²⁹ Blessed is Adonoy by day, Blessed is Adonoy by night, Blessed is Adonoy when we lie down, Blessed is Adonoy when we rise. For in Your hand are the souls of the living and the dead: [as it is written]: for in His hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of every human being.³⁰ In Your hand, I commit my spirit; You have liberated me Adonoy, Almighty of truth.³¹ Our God in heaven, reveal the unity of Your Name, preserve Your kingdom always and reign over us forever and ever.

footnotes: ¹⁶ Psalms 89:53. ¹⁷ Psalms 135:21. ¹⁸ Psalms 72:18. ¹⁹ Psalms 72:19. ²⁰ Psalms 104:31. ²¹ Psalms 113:2. ²² I Samuel 12:22. ²³ I 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. ²⁴ Zecharyah 14:9. ²⁵ Psalms 33:22. ²⁶ I Chronicles 16:35. ²⁷ Psalms 86:9. ²⁸ Psalms 86:10. ²⁹ Psalms 79:13. ³⁰ Job 12:10. ³¹ Psalms 31:6.

May our eyes behold, our heart rejoice, and our soul exalt in Your true deliverance, when it will be said to Zion: “Your God has begun His reign.” “Adonoy is King, Adonoy was King Adonoy will reign for ever and ever” For the kingdom is Yours and to all eternity, You will reign in glory; for we have no king except You. Blessed are You, the King in His glory, will always reign over us forever and ever, and over all His creation.