Paraphrase of the Amidah

1. Blessed is thy name, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who sittest over the cherubim, who art the God of Gods and the Lord of Lords, God compassionate and gracious. . . . God the most High, Maker of heavens and earth, the great, mighty and revered God, God the Shield of Abraham, who didst choose Abraham thy friend, and foundest his heart faithful before thee; as thou didst hear his prayer at Mount Moriah, so hear thou my prayer for thy sake and for thy name’s sake and for the sake of Abraham thy friend and be thou a shield about me and protection and refuge and thou be a shield unto me, shielding me, deliver me as thou passest over me and rescuest me. But thou, O Lord, art a shield about me and the lifter up of my head (Psalms 3:4).

Blessed art thou, O Lord, Shield of Abraham.

2. Blessed is thy name, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, for thou art God who killest and revivest and in thy hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. Thou hast established thy covenant with Isaac thy servant and as thou didst hear his prayer upon the altar, so hear my prayer for thy sake and for the sake of thy great name and for the sake of Isaac thy servant. Revive me and raise me up upon my feet to walk that I might meditate in thy word. Grant me that I may be enlightened with the light of the living, for thou revivest all with the quality of mercy. Send down dew of good will, blessing and charity to revive the world. For with thee is the fountain of life, in thy light do we see light (Psalms 36:10).

Blessed art thou, O Lord, who quickenest the dead.

3. Blessed is thy name, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, for thou art God, sanctified in the council of the holy ones, the Holy One and the awesome One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy. The Holy One of Jacob, the God of Israel; as thou didst hear his prayer in Beth-el, hear thou my prayer for thy sake, for thy name’s sake and for the sake of Israel thy chosen one and sanctify me for thy name’s sake as is meet for the sanctity of thy name. Cleanse me to worship thee with a whole heart, in sanctity and in purity. For thou art holy, thou art enthroned upon the praises of Israel (Psalms 22:4).

Blessed art thou, O Lord, our holy God.

4. Blessed is thy name, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, thou art a wise and understanding God, thou hast

created all in wisdom and understanding. Thou hast revealed unto us the wisdom of thy Torah through Moses thy chosen one. As thou didst hear his prayer when he stood before thee in the breach, hear thou the prayer of thy servant, the son of thy handmaiden, the poor, the pained, and raise him up upon his feet for thy sake and for the sake of Moses thy chosen one, and give me wisdom and understanding to believe, and grant me to study thy Torah to observe it and to do it. For the Lord gives wisdom, out of his mouth comes knowledge and discernment (Proverbs 2:6).

Blessed art thou, O Lord, gracious Giver of knowledge. [ . . . ]

9. Blessed is thy name, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, for thou art God who blesses the good years and from the blessing of thy goodness all thy creatures will be blessed and will live. As thou didst hear the prayer of David thy servant when he built an altar at the threshing floor of Arnon the Jebusite, so hear thou my prayer for thy sake and for the sake of David thine anointed. Bless me, O Lord of Israel, in all the works of my hands and accept my prayers in all my troubles. Grant me plentitude for my sustenance in blessing, prosperity, mercy, and truth. Grant me blessing whenever I go out and come in. May this year be one of abundant rains, heat, and dew, and successful in the grain and fruit harvest. Speed thou deliverance for thy people Israel. Let the earth yield her increase; may God, our own God, bless us. And let all the ends of the earth fear him (Psalms 67:7–8).

Blessed art thou, O Lord, who blessest the years. [ . . . ]

15. Blessed is thy name, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, for thou art God who causest salvation to flourish for thy people Israel. As thou didst hear the prayer of Hezekiah thy servant when he had been sick and was recovered of his sickness, so hear thou my prayer for thy sake and for thy name’s sake and for the sake of Hezekiah thy servant. Speedily make a horn to shoot up unto David and deliver me with a complete deliverance. O Lord, God, turn not away the face of thine anointed (2 Chronicles 6:42).

Blessed art thou, O Lord, who causest the horn of salvation to flourish. [ . . . ]

18. Blessed is thy name, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, for thou art God who acceptest worship. We give thanks and blessing and bow down and prostrate ourselves to thy great name. For as above and below they prostrate themselves before thee, we also will prostrate ourselves before thy glory in the fear of thee. As thou didst hear the prayer of Daniel from the den of lions, so hear thou my prayer for thy sake and for thy name’s sake, and deal kindly with us, the good God. And remember unto us thy mercy and restrain thine anger from us and withhold extinction, indignation, wrath, fierce anger, the destroyer and adversary, the evil inclination, stumbling blocks, afflictions, sickness, punishments that are troublesome, cruel, and peremptory which go forth to come upon the world. Save me and ransom me from all these and from all their seasons; and remember unto life all the children of thy covenant and remember us for our well-being and marvelous things. We will give thanks unto thy name, O Lord, for it is good (Psalms 54:8).

Blessed art thou, O Lord, whose name is good, and unto whom it is becoming to give thanks.

19. Blessed is thy name, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the Lord redeems the soul of his servants; and none of them that take refuge in thee shall be desolate. Regard my supplications and accept my request. Encompass me with peace and bear me tidings of peace. Grant peace unto my limbs for the merits of Daniel and his companions for whom thou hast performed miracles so that the four corners of the universe were stupefied by thy signs and thy wonders which thou didst work unto them. Because of their righteousness grant me relief from my suffering and do not keep thine anger for ever. Let not sin and iniquity impede my prayer. For thou acceptest those that return and showest good will toward them that confess. The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace (Psalms 29:11).

Blessed art thou, O Lord, who blessest thy people Israel with peace.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before thee, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalms 19:15).