1. In some traditions, this liturgy begins with a general kavana of personal devotion, and the prayer for cosmic unification (l'shem yichud kudsha brich hu u'schintei).
(ג) לְשֵׁם יִחוּד קֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּהּ, בִּדְחִילוּ וּרְחִימוּ, וּרְחִימוּ וּדְחִילוּ, לְיַחֲדָא שֵׁם אוֹת יוּ"ד אוֹת הֵ"א בְּאוֹת וָא"ו אוֹת הֵ"א, בְּיִחוּדָא שְׁלִים בְּשֵׁם כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, לַאֲקָמָא שְׁכִינְתָּא מֵעַפְרָא וּלְעִלוּי שְׁכִינַת עֻזֵּנוּ:
הֲרֵינִי מְקַבֵּל עָלַי אֱלָהוּתוּ יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאַהֲבָתוֹ וְיִרְאָתוֹ; וְהֲרֵינִי יָרֵא מִמֶנּוּ, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ רַב וְשַׁלִּיט עַל כֹּלָא, וְכֹלָּא קַמֵּהּ כְּלָא.
וַהֲרֵינִי מַמְלִיכוֹ עַל כָּל אֵבֶר וְאֵבֶר וְגִיד וְגִיד מֵרַמַ"ח אֵבָרִים וְשְׁסָ"ה גִידִים שֶׁל גּוּפִי וְנַפְשִׁי רוּחִי וְנִשְׁמָתִי, מַלְכוּת גְּמוּרָה וּשְׁלֵמָה. וַהֲרֵינִי עֶבֶד לַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְהוּא בְרַחֲמָיו יְזַכֵּנִי לְעָבְדוֹ בְלֵב שָׁלֵם וְנֶפֶשׁ חֲפֵצָה. אָמֵן כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן:
For the sake of the unification of the Holy One, Blessed be He & His Shechina, and for the unification of Divine Awe with Divine Mercy, Divine Mercy with Divine Awe; to unify the four letters of the Name: Yud, Hei, Vav and Hei with a Complete Unity in the name of all Yisrael, to lift the Shechina from the dust & to raise up the Shechina of our strength:
Behold I accept upon myself the Divinity of the Blessed One, & His love & His awe. And behold I am in awe of Him because he is the master & decisor over all, & all is before Him entirely.
And behold I declare His Sovereignty over each & every limb and sinew of the 248 limbs & 365 sinews of my body, plus my nefesh, my ruach and my neshama [3 levels of soul] – a total & complete Sovereignty.
And behold I am a servant to the Name of the Holy Blessed One; may He in His mercy give me the merit to serve Him with a complete heart & a desiring soul.
Amen – May it be His Will.
2. Now undertake a personal accounting of the day, whether in specific detail, or with this general prayer for forgiveness and the "alleviation of karma" for others, as well as the clearing of one's own sins and the rectification of one's own habitual behavior.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם:
הֲרֵינִי מוֹחֵל וְסוֹלֵחַ לְכָל מִי שֶׁהִכְעִיס וְהִקְנִיט אוֹתִי, אוֹ שֶׁחָטָא כְּנֶגְדִּי בֵּין בְּגוּפִי, בֵּין בְּמָמוֹנִי, בֵּין בִּכְבוֹדִי, בֵּין בְּכָל אֲשֶׁר לִי, בֵּין בְּאֹנֶס בֵּין בְּרָצוֹן, בֵּין בְּשׁוֹגֵג בֵּין בְּמֵזִיד, בֵּין בְּדִבּוּר בֵּין בְּמַעֲשֶׂה, בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל זֶה בֵּין בְּגִלְגּוּל אַחֵר, לְכָל בֶּן אָדָם, וְלֹא יֵעָנֵשׁ שׁוּם אָדָם בְּסִיבָּתִי:
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלֹקַי וְאֱלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתַי שֶׁלֹא אֶחֱטָא עוֹד וְלֹא אֶחֱזֹר בָּהֶם, וְלֹא אָשׁוּב עוֹד לְהַכְעִיסֶךָ וְלֹא אֶעֱשֶׂה הָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ, וּמָה שֶּׁחָטָאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ מְחֹק בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, אֲבָל לֹא עַל יְדֵי יִסוּרִים וְחֳלָיִם רָעִים:
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ, ה' צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי:
Master of the Universe:
Behold I forgive & pardon anyone who has angered me or antagonized me, or who has sinned against me, whether in relation to my body, or my money, or my honor, or anything that pertains to me;
whether done compulsively or willingly; whether accidentally or deliberately; whether through words or through actions; whether in this present incarnation, or in another incarnation - any human being. And may no person be punished because of me.
May it be Your will, my G·d, & G·d of my ancestors, that I not sin again, and that I not be remembered by these sins.
May I never again return to behavior that angers You, nor do what You perceive to be wrong.
And any ways I have sinned before You, with Your abundant mercies please erase -- though not by means of suffering or terrible illnesses.
May the expressions of my mouth & the thoughts of my heart find favor before You, G·d, my Rock & my Redeemer.
3. In some prayerbooks, the Bedtime Shema liturgy begins here, with this blessing (taken from Talmud Brachot 60b, where it immediately precedes the sequence of morning blessings).
בָּרוּךְ [אַתָּה ה', אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם] הַמַּפִּיל חֶבְלֵי שֵׁנָה עַל עֵינַי, וּתְנוּמָה עַל עַפְעַפַּי, וּמֵאִיר לְאִישׁוֹן בַּת עָיִן.
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלֹקַי וֵאלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתַי, שֶׁתַּשְׁכִּיבֵנִי לְשָׁלוֹם, וְתַעֲמִידֵנִי לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם,
וְתֵן חֶלְקִי בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ, וְתַרְגִּילֵנִי לִדְבַר מִצְוָה, וְאַל תַּרְגִּילֵנִי לִדְבַר עֲבֵרָה, וְאַל תְּבִיאֵנִי לִידֵי חֵטְא, וְלֹא לִידֵי נִסָּיוֹן, וְלֹא לִידֵי בִזָּיוֹן, וְיִשְׁלֹט בִּי יֵצֶר הַטּוֹב, וְאַל יִשְׁלֹט בִּי יֵצֶר הָרָע, וְתַצִּילֵנִי מִיֵּצֶר הָרָע וּמֵחֳלָאִים רָעִים,
וְאַל יַבְהִילוּנִי חֲלוֹמוֹת רָעִים וְהִרְהוּרִים רָעִים,
וּתְהֵא מִטָּתִי שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ,
וְהָאֵר עֵינַי פֶּן אִישַׁן הַמָּוֶת.
בָּרוּךְ [אַתָּה ה'] הַמֵּאִיר לָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בִּכְבוֹדוֹ:
Blessed [are You, L·rd, our G·d, King of the Universe] that causes the bonds of sleep to fall upon my eyes, & slumber upon my eyelids, & that enlightens the pupil of the eye.
May it be your will, L·rd, my G·d , & G·d of my forefathers, to lay me down in peace, & to raise me up for good life & for peace.
Let my portion be in your Torah, & may you accustom me in the matter of mitzvah (sacred action). Do not accustom me to an errant way, nor bring me into the hands of sin, nor into the hands of trials, nor the hands of degradation.
And let the good inclination rule within me, & let the evil inclination not have power within me.
Release me from the evil inclination and from bad diseases, and let not bad dreams or dark perseverations disturb or confound me.
May my bed be complete before you [ie with only appropriate expressions of sexuality].
And enlighten my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death.
Blessed [are you, L·rd] that enlightens the entire universe with His glory.
4. Now the Shema itself, focusing particularly on the unification of the Divine. [Some prayerbooks instruct explicitly to cover the eyes when saying Shema, and to think of the Oneness of G·d].
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד:
בלחש: בָּרוּךְ, שֵּׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ, לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ.
וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל לְבָבֶךָ.
וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ.
וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת עַל יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ.
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזוּזֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ:
וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל מִצְוֹתַי אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם לְאַהֲבָה אֶת ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם וּלְעָבְדוֹ בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶם וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁכֶם.
וְנָתַתִּי מְטַר אַרְצְכֶם בְּעִתּוֹ יוֹרֶה וּמַלְקוֹשׁ וְאָסַפְתָּ דְגָנֶךָ וְתִירֹשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ.
וְנָתַתִּי עֵשֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ לִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ.
הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם פֶּן יִפְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם וְסַרְתֶּם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֱלֹקִים אֲחֵרִים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶם לָהֶם.
וְחָרָה אַף ה' בָּכֶם וְעָצַר אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹא יִהְיֶה מָטָר וְהָאֲדָמָה לֹא תִתֵּן אֶת יְבוּלָהּ וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר ה' נֹתֵן לָכֶם.
וְשַׂמְתֶּם אֶת דְּבָרַי אֵלֶּה עַל לְבַבְכֶם וְעַל נַפְשְׁכֶם וּקְשַׁרְתֶּם אֹתָם לְאוֹת עַל יֶדְכֶם וְהָיוּ לְטוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם.
וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אֹתָם אֶת בְּנֵיכֶם לְדַבֵּר בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ.
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזוּזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ.
לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע ה' לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶם לָתֵת לָהֶם כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ:
וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר.
דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם וְעָשׂוּ לָהֶם צִיצִת עַל כַּנְפֵי בִגְדֵיהֶם לְדֹרֹתָם וְנָתְנוּ עַל צִיצִת הַכָּנָף פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת.
וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְצִיצִת וּרְאִיתֶם אֹתוֹ וּזְכַרְתֶּם ידגיש את האות ז אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹת ה' וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם וְלֹא תָתֻרוּ אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם זֹנִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם.
לְמַעַן תִּזְכְּרוּ ידגיש את האות ז וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת כָּל מִצְוֹתָי וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים לֵאלֹקֵיכֶם.
אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לִהְיוֹת לָכֶם לֵאלֹקִים אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם:
וחוזר ואומר ה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם אֱמֶת.
HEAR, O ISRAEL, Adonai Is Our G·D, Adonai Is ONE
(Whispered) Blessed be His Name & glorious sovereignty forever.
V'Ahavta: And you shall love the L·rd, your G·d, with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart. And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house & when you walk by the way, when your lie down & when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, & they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house & upon your gates. (Devarim / Deut. 6:4-9)
Some liturgical traditions consider the second and third paragraphs of the Shema (Deuteronomy 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41) as optional during the bedtime liturgy.
V'Haya Im Shamoa: And it shall be that if you hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you today, to love the L·rd your G·d & to serve Him with all your heart & all your soul, then I will send rain for your land in its proper time, the autumn rain & the spring rain, that you may gather in your grain, your wine & your oil. And I will give grass in your field for your cattle & you shall eat & be satisfied. Take heed to yourselves lest your heart be deceived, & you turn aside & serve other gods & bow to them. For then the L·rd's wrath will be kindled against you, & He will close up the heavens that there be no rain, & land shall not yield her produce, & you shall perish quickly from off the goodly land which the L·rd gives you. You shall lay My words, these upon your heart & upon your soul, & you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, & they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down & when you rise. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house & upon your gates. So that the L·rd will lengthen your days & the days of your children upon the land which the L·rd promised to give to your fathers, as the days of the heavens above the earth, (Devarim / Deuteronomy 11:13-21)
VaYomer Adonai: And the L·rd spoke unto Moses, saying, speak unto the children of Israel & say to them to make for themselves a fringe on the borders of their garments, throughout their generations. And they shall place upon the fringe of the border, a thread of blue wool. And it shall be to you a fringe that you may look upon, & remember all the commandments of the L·rd & to do them. Then shall you not stray after your heart & your eyes whereafter you are wont to stray. So may you remember & do all My commandments & be holy for your G·d. I am the L·rd your G·d who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your G·d; I am the L·rd your G·d. (Bamidbar / Numbers 15:37-41)
(Repeat & Say)
The L-rd, Your G-d, is True.
5. Additional scriptural selections for meditation now follow. Different prayerbook traditions suggest different texts, some texts being more universally recommended than others. Presumably the idea is that you fall asleep somewhere in the midst of reciting all of these.
Psalm 90:17
וִיהִי נֹעַם אדושם אֱלֹקֵינוּ עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָה עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנֵהוּ.
Psalm 149:5-6
יַעְלְזוּ חֲסִידִים בְּכָבוֹד יְרַנְּנוּ עַל מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם: רוֹמְמוֹת אֵל בִּגְרוֹנָם וְחֶרֶב פִּיפִיּוֹת בְּיָדָם:
Song of Songs 3:7-8
הִנֵּה מִטָּתוֹ שֶׁלִּשְׁלֹמֹה שִׁשִּׁים גִּבֹּרִים סָבִיב לָהּ מִגִּבֹּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: כֻּלָּם אֲחֻזֵי חֶרֶב מְלֻמְּדֵי מִלְחָמָה אִישׁ חַרְבּוֹ עַל יְרֵכוֹ מִפַּחַד בַּלֵּילוֹת: ג' פעמים
Numbers 6:24-26
יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ:
יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ:
יִשָּׂא ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם:
Psalm 90:17
May the pleasantness of the Lord our God be upon us, and may the work of our hands be establish - yea, may He establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 149:5-6
The pious (tzaddikim) shall exult in honor; may they sing and rejoice upon their beds. The spears/exaltations of G·d are in their throats & a double edged sword is in their hands.
Song of Songs 3:7-8
Behold the bed of Solomon: sixty warriors / strong men surrounding it, from among the warriors / strong men of Israel. All of them sword-bearers, all of them learned in war; each man with his scabbard on his thigh, from the fear of nighttimes.
[Repeat 3 times]
Numbers 6:24-26
The L·rd will bless you & protect you.
The L·rd will shine His countenance upon you & give you grace.
The L·rd will lift His countenance upon you & bestow upon you peace.
6. Some add the following kavana before Psalm 91. Some say Psalm 91 immediately after "veyehi noam - may the pleasantness of the Lord."
אִם תִּשְׁכַּב לֹא תִפְחָד וְשָׁכַבְתָּ וְעָרְבָה שְׁנָתֶךָ: שָׁמְרֵנִי כְּאִישׁוֹן בַּת עָיִן בְּצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵנִי: אֲנִי שָׁכַבְתִּי וָאִישָׁנָה הֱקִיצוֹתִי כִּי ה' יִסְמְכֵנִי: בְּיָדְךָ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי פָּדִיתָה אוֹתִי ה' אֵל אֱמֶת:
Psalm 91
יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן בְּצֵל שַׁדַּי יִתְלוֹנָן:
אֹמַר לַה' מַחְסִי וּמְצוּדָתִי אֱלֹקַי אֶבְטַח בּוֹ:
כִּי הוּא יַצִּילְךָ מִפַּח יָקוּשׁ מִדֶּבֶר הַוּוֹת:
בְּאֶבְרָתוֹ יָסֶךְ לָךְ וְתַחַת כְּנָפָיו תֶּחְסֶה צִנָּה וְסֹחֵרָה אֲמִתּוֹ:
לֹא תִירָא מִפַּחַד לָיְלָה מֵחֵץ יָעוּף יוֹמָם:
מִדֶּבֶר בָּאֹפֶל יַהֲלֹךְ מִקֶּטֶב יָשׁוּד צָהֳרָיִם:
יִפֹּל מִצִּדְּךָ אֶלֶף וּרְבָבָה מִימִינֶךָ אֵלֶיךָ לֹא יִגָּשׁ:
רַק בְּעֵינֶיךָ תַבִּיט וְשִׁלֻּמַת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶה:
כִּי אַתָּה ה' מַחְסִי עֶלְיוֹן שַׂמְתָּ מְעוֹנֶךָ:
לֹא תְאֻנֶּה אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה וְנֶגַע לֹא יִקְרַב בְּאָהֳלֶךָ:
כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָּךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ:
עַל כַּפַּיִם יִשָּׂאוּנְךָ פֶּן תִּגֹּף בָּאֶבֶן רַגְלֶךָ:
עַל שַׁחַל וָפֶתֶן תִּדְרֹךְ תִּרְמֹס כְּפִיר וְתַנִּין:
כִּי בִי חָשַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵהוּ אֲשַׂגְּבֵהוּ כִּי יָדַע שְׁמִי:
יִקְרָאֵנִי וְאֶעֱנֵהוּ עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה אֲחַלְּצֵהוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֵהוּ:
אֹרֶךְ יָמִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵהוּ וְאַרְאֵהוּ בִּישׁוּעָתִי:
When you lie down, do not fear; lie down and let your sleep be pleasant.
Guard me as the pupil of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I lay down and I will sleep; awaken me [again] for G·d, I rely upon You.
In Your Hands I deposit my Soul. Redeem me, L·rd, G·d of Truth.
Psalm 91
He who sits in the shelter of the Supreme One, in the Shadow of the L·rd will he dwell. I say to the L·rd "You are my refuge & my fortress, my L·rd; I will trust in Him."
For He will save you from the ensnaring trap, from destructive pestilence.
With his pinion will he cover you, & under His wings you will be protected. His truth is shield & armor.
You shall not be afraid of the terror of night, [nor] of the arrow that flies by day. [Not] from pestilence that walks in the dark, [nor] from a destroyer that damages at noonday.
A thousand will encamp at your [left] side & ten-thousand by your right & to you they will not come near.
Only with your eyes you shall glimpse, seeing the retribution of the wicked.
Because [you said] "You, L·rd, are my refuge" you have made the Supreme G·d your abode.
No evil shall befall you, nor any plague come to your dwelling.
For He has instructed His angels regarding you, to protect you in all your ways.
On palms they will carry you, lest you stub your foot on a stone.
Upon lion and serpent you shall tread; you will trample the young lion & the snake.
[God says:]
"Because he desired My Name - I will protect him & I will lift him - for he knows My Name. He will call Me & I will answer him - I am with him in distress; I will release him & I will give him honor. I will satiate him with length of days & I will show him My salvation."
7. The following blessings are mostly repeats from the Maariv evening service. Some begin this section with Psalm 3. In other traditions, the core blessing here, Hashkivenu, actually comes before saying the Shema itself.
Psalm 3:2-9
ה" מָה רַבּוּ צָרָי רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי: רַבִּים אֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי אֵין יְשׁוּעָתָה לּוֹ בֵאֱלֹקִים סֶלָה: וְאַתָּה ה' מָגֵן בַּעֲדִי כְּבוֹדִי וּמֵרִים רֹאשִׁי: קוֹלִי אֶל ה' אֶקְרָא וַיַּעֲנֵנִי מֵהַר קָדְשׁוֹ סֶלָה: אֲנִי שָׁכַבְתִּי וָאִישָׁנָה הֱקִיצוֹתִי כִּי ה' יִסְמְכֵנִי: לֹא אִירָא מֵרִבְבוֹת עָם אֲשֶׁר סָבִיב שָׁתוּ עָלָי: קוּמָה ה' הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי אֱלֹקַי כִּי הִכִּיתָ אֶת כָּל אֹיְבַי לֶחִי שִׁנֵּי רְשָׁעִים שִׁבַּרְתָּ: לַה' הַיְשׁוּעָה עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶךָ סֶּלָה:
:Lay us down to peace
הַשְׁכִּיבֵנוּ ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ לְשָׁלוֹם, וְהַעֲמִידֵנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם, וּפְרֹשׂ עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ, וְתַקְּנֵנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ מְהֵרָה לְמַעַן שְׁמְךָ, והָגֵן בַּעֲדֵנוּ, וְהָסֵר מֵעָלֵינוּ אוֹיֵב, דֶּבֶר, וְחֶרֶב, וְרָעָב וְיָגוֹן, וְהָסֵר שָּׂטָן מִלְּפָנֵינוּ וּמֵאַחֲרֵינוּ, וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵנוּ, כִּי אֵל מֶלֶךְ חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אָתָּה. וּשְׁמֹר צֵאתֵנוּ וּבוֹאֵנוּ לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
:Blessed by day
בָּרוּךְ ה' בַּיּוֹם. בָּרוּךְ ה' בַּלָּיְלָה. בָּרוּךְ ה' בְּשָׁכְבֵנוּ. בָּרוּךְ ה' בְּקוּמֵנוּ. כִּי בְיָדְךָ נַפְשׁוֹת הַחַיִּים וְהַמֵּתִים אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי וְרוּחַ כָּל בְּשָׂר אִישׁ: בְּיָדְךָ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי פָּדִיתָה אוֹתִי ה' אֵל אֱמֶת: אֱלֹקֵינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם יַחֵד שִׁמְךָ וְקַיֵּם מַלְכוּתְךָ תָּמִיד וּמְלֹךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
:Let our eyes see
יִרְאוּ עֵינֵינוּ וְיִשְׂמַח לִבֵּנוּ וְתָגֵל נַפְשֵׁנוּ בִּישׁוּעָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת בֶּאֱמֹר לְצִיּוֹן מָלַךְ אֱלֹקָיִךְ: ה' מֶלֶךְ ה' מָלָךְ ה' יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: כִּי הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁלְּךָ הִיא וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עַד תִּמְלךְ בְּכָבוֹד כִּי אֵין לָנוּ מֶלֶךְ אֶלָּא אָתָּה:
Psalm 3:2-9
God! How great and how many are my troubles that are come upon me. Many have said to me: There is no salvation in Him, in God - Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield about me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.
With my voice I call unto the LORD, and He answereth me out of His holy mountain. Selah.
I lay me down, and I sleep; I awake, for the LORD sustaineth me. I am not afraid of the myriad that have set themselves against me round about.
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God; for Thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek; Thou hast broken the teeth of the wicked.
Salvation belongs to the LORD; Thy blessing be upon Thy people. Selah.
Hashkivenu - Lay us down to peace:
Lay us down, our Father, in peace, & raise us up, our King, to good life and to peace. And spread upon us the sukkah of your peace, & fix us, our King, with good advice before you, delivering us speedily for the sake of your name. Guard us, and deflect from us any enemy, pestilence, sword, illness, suffering, evil, pain, destruction or plague.
Deflect the Accuser [ha'Satan] from before us and from after us, and in the shadow of your wings secrete us, for you are God of mercy and grace.
And guard our goings out and our comings in for good life & peace, from now & ever more. [Blessed is the One that guards His people Israel for eternity.]
Blessed is the Lord by day:
Blessed is the Lord by day. Blessed is the Lord by night. Blessed is the Lord in our lying down. Blessed is the Lord in our rising up. For in Your hand are the souls of the living and the dead, for in God's hand is the life-force of all living beings, and the spirit of mortal man.
Into your hand I commend my soul; rescue me, Lord, God of truth.
Our God who is in heaven, unify your name and establish your kingdom eternally, and rule upon us for ever and ever.
Let our eyes see:
Let our eyes see and our hearts be glad and our souls rejoice in truth in your salvation, as we say to Zion: Your God reigns!
God has reigned; God reigns now; God will reign forever and ever.
For sovereignty itself is yours, and forever and ever you will reign in glory, for we have no king but you.
8. And just in case you are still awake, here are some more short scriptural selections. Some are repeated 3 times, like mantras.
Genesis 48:16
הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגֹּאֵל אֹתִי מִכָּל רָע יְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַנְּעָרִים, וְיִקָּרֵא בָהֶם שְׁמִי וְשֵׁם אֲבֹתַי, אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק, וְיִדְגּוּ לָרֹב בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ:
Exodus 15:26
וַיֹּאמֶר אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע לְקוֹל ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ וְהַיָּשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו תַּעֲשֶׂה, וְהַאֲזַנְתָּ לְמִצְוֹתָיו וְשָׁמַרְתָּ כָּל חֻקָּיו, כָּל הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם לֹא אָשִׂים עָלֶיךָ, כִּי אֲנִי ה' רֹפְאֶךָ:
Zecharia 3:2
וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל הַשָּׂטָן, יִגְעַר ה' בְּךָ הַשָּׂטָן, וְיִגְעַר ה' בְּךָ הַבֹּחֵר בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם, הֲלוֹא זֶה אוּד מֻצָּל מֵאֵשׁ:
Psalm 121:4
(ג"פ:) הִנֵּה לֹא יָנוּם וְלֹא יִישָׁן שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל:
Genesis 49:18 - three times each
(ג"פ:) לִישׁוּעָתְךָ קִוִּיתִי ה': קִוִּיתִי ה' לִישׁוּעָתְךָ: ה' לִישׁוּעָתְךָ קִוִּיתִי:
Invocation of the archangels
(ג"פ:) בְּשֵׁם ה' אֱלֹקֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל,
מִימִינִי מִיכָאֵל, וּמִשְּׂמֹאלִי גַּבְרִיאֵל, וּמִלְּפָנַי אוֹרִיאֵל, וּמֵאֲחוֹרַי רְפָאֵל,
וְעַל רֹאשִׁי שְׁכִינַת אֵל:
Genesis 48:16 (Jacob blesses Ephraim and Menashe, Joseph's sons):
May the angel that rescued me from all evil bless the lads; and may my name be called upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they wax many in the midst of the land.
Exodus 15:26 (Immediately after the crossing of the Red Sea and Song of the Sea):
And [Moses] said: 'If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that which is right in His eyes, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD that healeth thee.'
Zecharia 3:2
And the LORD said unto Satan: 'The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan, yea, the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee; is not this man a brand plucked out of the fire?'
Psalm 121:4 - three times
Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
Genesis 49:18 - three times each
For your salvation, O Lord, do I hope.
I hope, O Lord, for your salvation.
O Lord, for your salvation I hope.
Invocation of the archangels - three times:
In the name of the Lord, God of Israel: On my right hand is Michael, on my left is Gavriel, before me Uriel and behind me Rafael.
And upon my head is the Shechinah of El.
9. In the more kabbalistically influenced traditions, some sources recommend saying the complete Ashamnu confessional, as on Yom Kippur.
(כו) יעמוד ויאמר וידוי, וישחה ראשו, ויכה באגרופו על לבו בכל תיבה של הוִדוי, ואין לאומרו בליל שבת ובשאר ימים שאין אומרים בהם תחנון. וכן אין לאומרו במוצ"ש עד חצות הלילה, וכן במוצאי יו"ט ור"ח, וכיוצא בזה.
(כז) אָנָּא ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ וֵאלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. תָּבֹא לְפָנֶיךָ תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ. וְאַל תִּתְעַלַּם מַלְכֵּנוּ מִתְּחִנָּתֵנוּ. שֶׁאֵין אֲנַחְנוּ עַזֵּי פָנִים וּקְשֵׁי עֹרֶף לוֹמַר לְפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ וֵאלֹקֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ צַדִּיקִים אֲנַחְנוּ וְלֹא חָטָאנוּ. אֲבָל חָטָאנוּ. עָוִינוּ. פָּשַׁעְנוּ. אֲנַחְנוּ וַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְאַנְשֵׁי בֵיתֵנוּ:
אָשַׁמְנוּ. בָּגַדְנוּ. גָּזַלְנוּ. דִּבַּרְנוּ דֹפִי וְלָשׁון הָרָע. הֶעֱוִינוּ. וְהִרְשַׁעְנוּ. זַדְנוּ. חָמַסְנוּ. טָפַלְנוּ שֶׁקֶר וּמִרְמָה. יָעַצְנוּ עֵצוֹת רָעוֹת. כִּזַּבְנוּ. כָּעַסְנוּ. לַצְנוּ. מָרַדְנוּ. מָרִינוּ דְבָרֶיךָ. נִאַצְנוּ. נִאַפְנוּ. סָרַרְנוּ. עָוִינוּ. פָּשַׁעְנוּ. פָּגַמְנוּ. צָרַרְנוּ. צִעַרְנוּ אָב וָאֵם. קִשִּׁינוּ עֹרֶף. רָשַׁעְנוּ. שִׁחַתְנוּ. תִּעַבְנוּ. תָּעִינוּ וְתִעֲתַעְנוּ.
וְסַרְנוּ מִמִּצְוֹתֶיךָ וּמִמִּשְׁפָּטֶיךָ הַטּוֹבִים וְלֹא שָׁוָה לָנוּ. וְאַתָּה צַדִּיק עַל כָּל הַבָּא עָלֵינוּ. כִּי אֱמֶת עָשִׂיתָ. ואֲנַחְנוּ הִרְשָׁעְנוּ:
Stand to say the vidui, with your head bowed, beating your breast with your fist at each word. Don't say on Shabbat or Yom Tov (or other days Tachanun is omitted), or on motzei Shabbat or Yom Tov, if before midnight (midpoint between dusk-dawn).
Please, O Lord, our God and God of our ancestors: may our prayer come before you. And do not hide yourself, our king, from our entreaty. For we are not so arrogant and brazen as to say before you, O Lord, our God and God of our ancestors, that we are fully righteous and have not sinned. Rather, we have sinned. We have erred. We have polluted. We and our ancestors, and the members of our households:
Ashamnu– we have trespassed; Bagadnu– we have dealt treacherously; Gazalnu– we have robbed; Dibarnu dofi– we have spoken slander; He’evinu–we have acted perversely; V’hirshanu– we have done wrong; Zadnu– we have acted presumptuously; Hamasnu– we have done violence; Tafalnu sheker– we have practiced deceit; Yaatsnu ra– we have counseled evil; Kizavnu– we have spoken falsehood; Latsnu– we have scoffed; Maradnu– we have revolted; Niatsnu– we have blasphemed; Sararnu– we have rebelled; Avinu– we have committed iniquity; Pashanu– we have transgressed; Tsararnu– we have oppressed; Kishinu oref– we have been stiff necked; Rashanu– we have acted wickedly; Shichatnu– we have dealt corruptly; Tiavnu– we have committed abomination; Tainu– we have gone astray; Titanu– we have led others astray.
And we have turned aside from your mitzvot and your good laws, and it has not been appropriate for us. But you are righteous with everything that comes to you, for you act with truth, whereas we mess things up.
10. Some also add the great mystical poem Ana b'Koach, an acrostic alluding to God's 42-letter name. In addition to saying the whole prayer, there is a practice to then repeat the line pertaining to that day (first line on Saturday night / Day 1 / Sunday, second line on Sunday night / Day 2 / Monday, etc) three times. Conclude with the line "Baruch shem kavod..." in a whisper.
ליל א
אָנָּא בְּכֹחַ, גְּדוּלַת יְמִינְךָ, תַּתִּיר צְרוּרָה: (אב"ג ית"ץ)
ליל ב
קַבֵּל רִנַּת, עַמְּךָ. שַׂגְּבֵנוּ, טַהֲרֵנוּ נוֹרָא: (קר"ע שט"ן)
ליל ג
נָא גִּבּוֹר, דּוֹרְשֵׁי יִחוּדֶךָ, כְּבָבַת שָׁמְרֵם: (נג"ד יכ"ש)
ליל ד
בָּרְכֵם טַהֲרֵם, רַחֲמֵי צִדְקָתְךָ, תָּמִיד גָּמְלֵם: (בט"ר צת"ג)
ליל ה
חָסִין קָדוֹשׁ, בְּרֹב טוּבְךָ, נַהֵל עֲדָתֶךָ: (חק"ב טנ"ע)
ליל ו
יָחִיד גֵּאֶה, לְעַמְּךָ פְנֵה, זוֹכְרֵי קְדֻשָּׁתֶךָ: (יג"ל פז"ק)
ליל ז
שַׁוְעָתֵנוּ קַבֵּל, וּשְׁמַע צַעֲקָתֵנוּ, יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּמוֹת: (שק"ו צי"ת)
בלחש:
בָּרוּךְ, שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ, לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
Ana B'Khoach: The 42 Letter Name
(Sat night/Sunday):
We beg thee
with the strength and greatness of thy right arm-Untangle our knotted fate.
(Sunday night/Monday):
Accept your people's song,
elevate and purify us, o awesome one.
(Monday night):
Please, heroic one,
those who pursue your uniqueness-
guard them as the pupil of an eye.
(Tuesday night):
Bless them, purify them, pity them,
may your righteousness always reward them.
(Wednesday night):
Powerful and Holy One,
in goodness lead your flock.
(Thursday night):
Unique and proud one,
to your people turn,
who remember your holiness.
(Erev Shabbat, Friday night):
Accept our cries,
and hear our screams,
o knower of mysteries!
Whispered:
Blessed is the name of the One, the glory of whose kingdom is forever and ever.
11. Still awake? Some now add the following: psalm 128, followed by Adon Olam, and then the first 4 psalms of the Book of Psalms. If you can get through all this and still be awake, you either have epic powers of clarity, or a serious case of insomnia.
שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת, אַשְׁרֵי כָּל יְרֵא ה', הַהֹלֵךְ בִּדְרָכָיו: יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ: אֶשְׁתְּךָ כְּגֶפֶן פּוֹרִיָּה בְּיַרְכְּתֵי בֵיתֶךָ בָּנֶיךָ כִּשְׁתִילֵי זֵיתִים סָבִיב לְשֻׁלְחָנֶךָ: הִנֵּה כִּי כֵן יְבֹרַךְ גָּבֶר יְרֵא ה': יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' מִצִּיּוֹן, וּרְאֵה בְּטוּב יְרוּשָׁלַיִם כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ: וּרְאֵה בָנִים לְבָנֶיךָ, שָׁלוֹם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל:
(ג"פ:) רִגְזוּ וְאַל תֶּחֱטָאוּ, אִמְרוּ בִלְבַבְכֶם עַל מִשְׁכַּבְכֶם וְדֹמּוּ סֶלָה:
אֲדוֹן עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר מָלַךְ, בְּטֶרֶם כָּל יְצִיר נִבְרָא: לְעֵת נַעֲשָׂה בְּחֶפְצוֹ כֹּל, אֲזַי מֶלֶךְ שְׁמוֹ נִקְרָא: וְאַחֲרֵי כִּכְלוֹת הַכֹּל, לְבַדּוֹ יִמְלֹךְ נוֹרָא: וְהוּא הָיָה וְהוּא הֹוֶה, וְהוּא יִהְיֶה בְּתִפְאָרָה: וְהוּא אֶחָד וְאֵין שֵׁנִי, לְהַמְשִׁיל לוֹ לְהַחְבִּירָה: בְּלִי רֵאשִׁית בְּלִי תַכְלִית, וְלוֹ הָעֹז וְהַמִּשְׂרָה: וְהוּא אֵלִי וְחַי גֹּאֲלִי, וְצוּר חֶבְלִי בְּעֵת צָרָה: וְהוּא נִסִּי וּמָנוֹס לִי, מְנָת כּוֹסִי בְּיוֹם אֶקְרָא: בְּיָדוֹ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי, בְּעֵת אִישַׁן וְאָעִירָה: וְעִם רוּחִי גְּוִיָּתִי ה' לִי וְלֹא אִירָא:
א אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים, וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב: כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת ה' חֶפְצוֹ, וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה: וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל פַּלְגֵי מָיִם, אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבּוֹל, וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ: לֹא כֵן הָרְשָׁעִים, כִּי אִם כַּמֹּץ אֲשֶׁר תִּדְּפֶנּוּ רוּחַ: עַל כֵּן לֹא יָקֻמוּ רְשָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּט, וְחַטָּאִים בַּעֲדַת צַדִּיקִים: כִּי יוֹדֵעַ ה' דֶּרֶךְ צַדִּיקִים, וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד:
ב לָמָּה רָגְשׁוּ גוֹיִם, וּלְאֻמִּים יֶהְגּוּ רִיק: יִתְיַצְּבוּ מַלְכֵי אֶרֶץ, וְרוֹזְנִים נוֹסְדוּ יָחַד, עַל ה' וְעַל מְשִׁיחוֹ: נְנַתְּקָה אֶת מוֹסְרוֹתֵימוֹ, וְנַשְׁלִיכָה מִמֶּנּוּ עֲבֹתֵימוֹ: יוֹשֵׁב בַּשָּׁמַיִם יִשְׂחָק, אדושם יִלְעַג לָמוֹ: אָז יְדַבֵּר אֵלֵימוֹ בְאַפּוֹ, וּבַחֲרוֹנוֹ יְבַהֲלֵמוֹ: וַאֲנִי נָסַכְתִּי מַלְכִּי, עַל צִיּוֹן הַר קָדְשִׁי: אֲסַפְּרָה אֶל חֹק, ה' אָמַר אֵלַי בְּנִי אַתָּה, אֲנִי הַיּוֹם יְלִדְתִּיךָ: שְׁאַל מִמֶּנִּי וְאֶתְּנָה גוֹיִם נַחֲלָתֶךָ, וַאֲחֻזָּתְךָ אַפְסֵי אָרֶץ: תְּרֹעֵם בְּשֵׁבֶט בַּרְזֶל, כִּכְלִי יוֹצֵר תְּנַפְּצֵם: וְעַתָּה מְלָכִים הַשְׂכִּילוּ, הִוָּסְרוּ שֹׁפְטֵי אָרֶץ: עִבְדוּ אֶת ה' בְּיִרְאָה, וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה: נַשְּׁקוּ בַר, פֶּן יֶאֱנַף וְתֹאבְדוּ דֶרֶךְ, כִּי יִבְעַר כִּמְעַט אַפּוֹ, אַשְׁרֵי כָּל חוֹסֵי בוֹ:
ג מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד, בְּבָרְחוֹ מִפְּנֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם בְּנוֹ: ה' מָה רַבּוּ צָרָי, רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי: רַבִּים אֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי, אֵין יְשׁוּעָתָה לּוֹ בֵאֱלֹקִים סֶלָה: וְאַתָּה ה' מָגֵן בַּעֲדִי, כְּבוֹדִי וּמֵרִים רֹאשִׁי: קוֹלִי אֶל ה' אֶקְרָא, וַיַּעֲנֵנִי מֵהַר קָדְשׁוֹ סֶלָה: אֲנִי שָׁכַבְתִּי וָאִישָׁנָה, הֱקִיצוֹתִי כִּי ה' יִסְמְכֵנִי: לֹא אִירָא מֵרִבְבוֹת עָם, אֲשֶׁר סָבִיב שָׁתוּ עָלָי: קוּמָה ה' הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי אֱלֹקַי, כִּי הִכִּיתָ אֶת כָּל אֹיְבַי לֶחִי, שִׁנֵּי רְשָׁעִים שִׁבַּרְתָּ: לַה' הַיְשׁוּעָה, עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶךָ סֶּלָה:
ד לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינוֹת מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד: בְּקָרְאִי עֲנֵנִי אֱלֹקֵי צִדְקִי, בַּצָּר הִרְחַבְתָּ לִּי, חָנֵּנִי וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי: בְּנֵי אִישׁ, עַד מֶה כְבוֹדִי לִכְלִמָּה תֶּאֱהָבוּן רִיק, תְּבַקְשׁוּ כָזָב סֶלָה: וּדְעוּ כִּי הִפְלָה ה' חָסִיד לוֹ, ה' יִשְׁמַע בְּקָרְאִי אֵלָיו: רִגְזוּ וְאַל תֶּחֱטָאוּ, אִמְרוּ בִלְבַבְכֶם עַל מִשְׁכַּבְכֶם וְדֹמּוּ סֶלָה: זִבְחוּ זִבְחֵי צֶדֶק, וּבִטְחוּ אֶל ה': רַבִּים אֹמְרִים מִי יַרְאֵנוּ טוֹב, נְסָה עָלֵינוּ אוֹר פָּנֶיךָ ה': נָתַתָּה שִׂמְחָה בְלִבִּי, מֵעֵת דְּגָנָם וְתִירוֹשָׁם רָבּוּ: בְּשָׁלוֹם יַחְדָּו אֶשְׁכְּבָה וְאִישָׁן, כִּי אַתָּה ה' לְבָדָד לָבֶטַח תּוֹשִׁיבֵנִי:
Psalm 128
|
1 A Song of Ascents. 2 When thou eatest the labour of thy hands, happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of thy house; 4 Behold, surely thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5 The LORD bless thee out of Zion; and see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life; 6 And see thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel! Adon Olam Psalm 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Psalm 2 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Psalm 3 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. 7 Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. Psalm 4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. |