Blessed are You, Adonoy

our God, King of the Universe,

Who chose good prophets,¹³

footnotes: ¹³ The true prophet must be genuinely tov “good” and a friend to all men both in his attitude and in his conduct. The heart of a true prophet in Israel must be capable of genuine rejoicing when individuals and mankind flourish, and of sincere sorrow when they go into decline. The Jewish prophet stands in the service of tov of the kingdom of the absolute good whose messenger he is meant to be.—S. R. Hirsch

and was pleased with their words¹⁴

footnotes: ¹⁴ The prophet is given only the basic content of the ideals which he is to proclaim. The words in which he expresses the theme communicated to him however, are his own. According to the Sages אֵין שְׁנֵי נְבִיאִים מִתְנַבְאִין בְּסִגְנוֹן אֶחָד , each prophet has a style, peculiar to him alone, hence a prophet requires the gift of eloquence. God chooses as His prophets only such men whose words are נֶאֶמָרִים בֶּאֶמֶת , spoken in truth.— S. R. Hirsch

which were spoken in truth.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Who chooses the Torah

and Moses, His servant,

and Israel, His people,

and the prophets of truth and righteousness.

Blessed are You, Adonoy

our God, King of the Universe,

Rock of all the worlds,

Righteous in all generations,

the Almighty, the Faithful One,

Who says and does,

Who speaks and fulfills,

for all His words are true and right.

Dependable are You, Adonoy, our God,

and dependable are Your words,

and not one of Your words

is ever retracted unfulfilled,

for You are the Almighty,

a King who is dependable and merciful.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

the Almighty

Who is dependable in all His words.

Have compassion on Zion

for it is the home of our life,

and the one whose soul is humiliated,¹⁵

footnotes: ¹⁵ This is the People of Israel, which is humiliated in exile. According to Avudraham and the siddur of Rav Amram Gaon, the text reads: וְלַעֲגוּמַת נֶפֶשׁ which would mean “the one whose soul is grieved.”

deliver speedily, in our days.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Who causes Zion to rejoice

with her children.

Cause us to rejoice, Adonoy, our God,

with Elijah the prophet, Your servant,

and with the kingdom of the House of David,

Your anointed.

Speedily may he come

and cause our heart to exult.

Upon his throne, no stranger¹⁶ shall sit,

footnotes: ¹⁶ “Stranger” in this context means anyone not of the seed of David.

and others will no longer inherit

his honor.

For by Your holy Name, You swore to him,

that his light will never be extinguished.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Shield of David.

For the Torah, for the Divine Service

for the Prophets,

and for this Sabbath Day

which You gave us, Adonoy, our God,

for holiness and for rest,

for honor and for glory.

For all this, Adonoy, our God,

we thank You,

and bless You;

blessed be Your Name

by the mouth of all the living

continually forever.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Sanctifier of the Sabbath.

For the Torah, for the Divine Service

for the Prophets.

for this Sabbath Day)

and for this day of (choose the appropriate one:)

the Festival of Matzos

the Festival of Shavuous

the Festival of Sukkos

the Festival of Shemini Atzeres

which You gave us, Adonoy, our God

(on the Sabbath add: for holiness and for rest)

for happiness and for joy,

for honor and for glory.

For all this, Adonoy, our God

we thank You

and bless You;

blessed be Your Name

by the mouth of all the living

continually forever.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Sanctifier of Israel and the Seasons.

Sanctifier of Shabbos and Israel

and the Seasons.)