Translation by Seamus McGowan The following is the Amidah text according to the Ashkenazi custom, in the summer months, without a minyan on days other than the Sabbath¹.
Rules to remember
1. Before beginning the prayer, take three steps backward, meditate for a moment to clear your mind, and then take three steps forward as though approaching a king. 2. Keep your feet together. 3. Concentrate on the meaning of the words you are uttering. Remove all distracting thoughts and worries from your mind. It is customary that if you lose concentration then you start over from the beginning. This prayer is meant to be taken very seriously. 4. You may not interrupt Shemoneh Esrei by talking, not even by answering Amein (upon hearing another prayer or blessing). If praying with at least ten men (minyan) and you should hear Kedushah, Kaddish, or Barechu while saying the Shemoneh Esrei, you should remain silent and listen to the Chazzan’s (leader’s) words. 5. Each individual recites Shemoneh Esrei in silence (speaking loud enough that you can hear yourself speaking, but not loud enough for somebody next to you to be able to hear you). Only the prayer leader, the Chazzan, ever recites it aloud, and then only after the entire congregation (himself included) has recited it silently.
When you see [+] in the text below, bend the knees at "blessed”, bow at “are you” and straighten up at “HaShem.”
My Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. [+] Blessed are You, HaShem, our G-d, G-d of our fathers, G-d of Abraham, G-d of Isaac, and G-d of Jacob, the Great, the Powerful, the Awesome, most High Almighty, Who bestows beneficent kindness, Who possesses everything, Who remembers the piety of the Patriarchs, and Who brings a redeemer to their children’s children, for the sake of His Name, with love. King, Helper, and Savior and Shield. [+] Blessed are You, HaShem, Shield of Abraham. You are mighty forever, my Lord; You are the Resurrector of the dead, mighty to save. He causes the dew to descend. He sustains the living with lovingkindness, resurrects the dead with great mercy, supports the falling, heals the sick, frees the bound, and remains faithful to those asleep in the dust. Who is like You, mighty One, and who can be compared to you, King who brings death and restores life and makes salvation (Yeshua) sprout. You are faithful to resurrect the dead. Blessed are you HaShem, who resurrects the dead. You are Holy, Your name is Holy, and holy ones praise you every day, blessed are you HaShem, the Holy G-d. You gift knowledge graciously upon humanity and teach understanding to mankind. Graciously gift us wisdom, understanding, and knowledge that comes from you. Blessed are you HaShem, giver of knowledge. Our father, cause us to return to your Torah. Draw us near to your service, our King, and bring us back to You in perfect repentance. Blessed are you HaShem, who desires repentance.
With your right hand in a fist, strike your chest over your heart at the words "sinned" and "disobeyed".
Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned. Pardon us, our King, for we have willfully disobeyed; for you pardon and forgive. Blessed are you, HaShem, the gracious one whose forgiveness abounds. See our affliction, wage our battle, and redeem us speedily for your name’s sake, for you are a mighty redeemer. Blessed are you, HaShem, redeemer of Israel. HaShem heal us, and we will be healed. Save us and we will be saved, for you are our praise. Grant a complete recovery for all our sicknesses,
If one wishes to, they may add the following prayer for a specific sick person.
May it be Your will, HaShem, our G-d, and the G-d of our fathers, that You send, quickly, a complete recovery from the heavens, healing for the soul, and healing for the body, for the sick (name) son/daughter of (mother’s name) among the afflicted of Israel. For you are G-d, King, faithful, and compassionate healer. Blessed are you, HaShem, healer of the sick of His people Israel. Bless for us, HaShem our G-d, this year and all the varieties of its produce for good; and grant a blessing, upon the face of the earth; satisfy us from Your bounty and bless our year, like the good years. Blessed are You, HaShem, who blesses the years. Sound the great Trumpet (shofar) for our freedom, and raise a banner to gather our exiles, and gather us together in unity from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are You, HaShem, who gathers the dispersed of His people Israel. Restore our judges as at first and our counselors as before. Remove sorrow and woe from us, and may You, HaShem alone, reign over us with kindness and compassion, and vindicate us in justice. Blessed are you, HaShem, King who loves righteousness and justice. Let there be no hope for slanderers and may all wickedness instantly perish. may all the enemies of Your people be swiftly cut off, and may You quickly uproot, crush, cast down and subdue the arrogant speedily in our days. Blessed are You, HaShem, destroyer of enemies and who humbles the arrogant. Upon the righteous, the pious, the elders of Your people Israel, upon the remnant of their scholars, the righteous strangers, and upon us, may Your mercy be aroused, HaShem our G-d. Grant bountiful blessing to all who trust in Your Name, and place our lot among them, and may we never be put to shame, for we have put our trust in You. Blessed are You, HaShem, who is the Support and Trust of the righteous. And to your city, Jerusalem, may you return in compassion, and may you dwell within it as you promised. And may you rebuild it speedily in our days as an eternal structure, and establish the throne of David within it soon. Blessed are you, HaShem, builder of Jerusalem. May the offshoot of David, your servant, soon sprout, and may his glory be raised by your salvation (Yeshua in Hebrew), for your salvation (Yeshua) we await all the day. Blessed are you, HaShem, who causes to sprout the glory of salvation (Yeshua). Hear our voice, HaShem, our G-d, be gracious and compassionate to us, and accept our prayers with compassion and mercy, for You are Almighty Who hears prayers and supplications. and do not turn us away empty-handed from Your Presence, our King,
At this point, the worshiper may add any private petition, and ask G-d’s help for himself, for his household, or for his community.
for You hear the prayers of Your people, Israel, with compassion. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who hears prayers. Find favor, HaShem our G-d, with your people Israel and their prayers, and restore the service to the Sanctuary of your House (the Holy of Holies in your Temple) and the fire offerings of Israel. And accept their prayers with love and favor, and may the service of your people Israel always be favorable with you. And may our eye witness your return to Zion in mercy! Blessed are you, HaShem, who restores His presence to Zion.
Bow at "We are thankful to you" and straighten up at "HaShem."
[+] We are thankful to You that You, HaShem, are our G-d and the G-d of our fathers forever. Rock of our lives, You are the Shield of our salvation in every generation. We will give thanks to You and declare Your praise for our lives which are committed into Your hand, and for our souls which are entrusted to You, and for Your miracles that are with us every day, and for Your wonders and favors at all times— evening, morning and afternoon. The Beneficent One, for Your compassion never runs out, And the Merciful One, for Your kindness never ends; forever have we placed our hope in You. For all these things may your name be blessed and exalted continually forever and ever. And all the living will thank you, selah. And praise your name in truth. You are The G-d of our salvation (Yeshua) and help, selah. [+] Blessed are you, HaShem, your name is "The Good One" and to you it is fitting to give thanks. Grant great peace to your people Israel forever, for you are King, Lord of all peace. May it be good in your eyes to bless Israel, your people, at every time and every hour with your peace. Blessed are you, HaShem, who blesses His people Israel with peace.
Some add the following:
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be favorable to you, HaShem, my rock and my redeemer. My G-d, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceitfully. May my soul be silent to those who curse me; and let my soul be like dust to all. Open my heart to Your Torah and let my soul pursue Your commandments. And for all who plan evil against me, quickly nullify their plans and frustrate their plot. Act for the sake of your Name. Act for the sake of Your right hand. Act for the sake of Your holiness. Act for the sake of Your Torah. In order that Your beloved ones be delivered, save with your right hand, and respond to me. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be favorable to you, HaShem, my rock and my redeemer.
Bow, and take three steps back while bowing, before straightening up. As though one is leaving the presence of a king. Bow left at "He who makes peace..." Bow right at "may He make peace..." and bow center at "and upon all Israel..."
Bowing directions are indicated by < (left), > (right), and ^ (forward).
< He who makes peace in His heights, > may He make peace upon us ^ and upon all Israel, and we now say, Amen. May it be Your will, HaShem our G-d, and the G-d of our fathers, that the Holy Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days, and grant us our share in Your Torah. And there we will serve You with reverence as in the days of old, and in former years. And let the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasing to HaShem, as in the days of old and in former years.
Footnotes
¹ The Amidah on the Sabbath and holidays is very different, as well as some slight changes for when praying with a minyan during the leader's repetition.
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