Akdamut Milin

Sefaria · Liturgy > Other Liturgy Works · 90 sections

1.1
An introduction of words and the beginning of speech,
1.2
Firstly, I take authorization and permission;
1.3
In two or three stanzas, which I shall commence in trepidation,
1.4
With leave from Him, Who created [man] and bears [his guilt] till senescence.
1.5
Eternal mighty acts are His, and there is no sufficient enumeration [for them],
1.6
[And] were the skies parchment, reed [pen]s all the forests;
1.7
Were the seas ink and all the assembled waters,
1.8
The inhabitants of the earth scribes, and writers of rəšūyōṯ (panegyrical hymns);
1.9
The glorious Master of heaven and Ruler over the dry land,
1.10
Who set up the world solitarily, and holds it in subjugation;
1.11
And without weariness completed it, and without feebleness,
1.12
And with a light letter (the letter He), which has no substance (contact between the articulators);
1.13
He prepared all his work in those six days,
1.14
The splendor of his honor He elevated onto His throne of fire.
1.15
A force of millions and myriads [of angels] to serve [Him],
1.16
They sprout anew in the mornings, abundant is [His] faithfulness;
1.17
More blazing [than them] are the Seraphim, adorned with six wings,
1.18
Till they are given a command, they remain silent in stillness;
1.19
They receive [the command] from one another simultaneously, without delay,
1.20
The honor of Him Who fills the entire earth to triple in sanctification;
1.21
Like a voice from the Almighty, like the sound of many waters,
1.22
Cherubs opposite Ophanim exalt in clamor;
1.23
To see before [their] face, an appearance like arrows of a bow,
1.24
Wherever they are sent, they [go] swiftly, in anxiousness;
1.25
They bless “Blessed be His honor,” in all tongues of incantation,
1.26
“From the location of the dwelling of His Presence,” which needs no searching;
1.27
The heavenly hosts roar, acclaim in apprehension,
1.28
“His reign shines for all generations, in perpetuity;”
1.29
[When] His sanctification is arranged, and when the hour passes,
1.30
[That is] the permanent end [of their duty], [which they do not resume] even after seven [years].
1.31
The lot of the honor of His estate (the Jewish people) is dear [to Him], for they regularly,
1.32
Single him out, at [sun]rise and [sun]set;
1.33
They are set aside as His portion, to do His will,
1.34
His wondrous praise they proclaim in speech;
1.35
He wishes, covets, and desires for them to exert themselves in [His] toil,
1.36
He therefore accepts their prayer, and [their] plea is effective;
1.37
It is bound unto the Eternal under oath as a diadem,
1.38
Opposite His honored frontlet (the head phylactery), it sits in firmness;
1.39
In which is written with wisdom and knowledge,
1.40
The greatness of Israel, [who] read in the teachings;
1.41
The praise of the Master of the universe, a likewise saying:
1.42
I thought it good to relate it before the kingdoms.
1.43
[The nations] come and gather, [their] appearance [is] like that of waves,
1.44
They wonder and ask her about the matter of the signs (wonders);
1.45
“Whence and who is your Beloved, O fair in appearance?
1.46
For due to Him, you are killed [in] the lion’s den (the exile);
1.47
You are honorable and beautiful, if you mingle into [our] dominions,
1.48
We will do your will in all places;”
1.49
In wisdom she replies to them, to make known the end,
1.50
“[If] you knew Him, in recognition [of His omnipotence];
1.51
Would your greatness be significant vis-à-vis that glory?
1.52
The greatness He will grant me, when salvation arrives;
1.53
When light comes to me, and shame will cover you,
1.54
When His honor is revealed, in strength and pride;
1.55
He enacts retribution on the foes and the isles,
1.56
Justice for a beloved people, abounding with merits;
1.57
Perfect joy, when [the exilees] come [in] neat garments,
1.58
When He gathers the exiles [to] the city of Jerusalem,
1.59
He casts His honor on it, day and night,
1.60
To make His canopy in it, crowned with praise;
1.61
The splendor of the clouds beautifies the veil,
1.62
According to [each one’s] work are the booths made [for them];
1.63
On foldstools of fine gold, with seven tiers;
1.64
Are the righteous demarcated before Him of the many acts;
1.65
Their appearance resembles the seven types of joy,
1.66
The sky in its splendor, and the splendid stars;
1.67
A glory that lips cannot detail,
1.68
And which has not been heard nor seen by the prophets [in their] visions;
1.69
In [a place] that no eye has gazed upon,0 inside the Garden of Eden,
1.70
They walk in a circle-dance along with the [Divine] Presence;
1.71
To Him they point, [saying:] “This is Him,” though in awe,
1.72
“In Him we placed our hope in our captivity, with strong faith;”
1.73
He leads us in eternity, [we] are compared (in vigor) to maidens,
1.74
[As] our portion from the Beginning He set aside as a heave;
1.75
The playful Leviathan and the proud mountain bull (Behemoth),
1.76
And when they are embroiled with each other and do battle;
1.77
With His horns, Behemoth gores in greatness,
1.78
Opposite him, the fish (Leviathan) leaps with his fins in might;
1.79
His creator pulls him closer with His sword in magnificence,
1.80
A banquet for the righteous He prepares [from them] and a meal;
1.81
They recline around Him with tables of carbuncle and precious stones,
1.82
Drawn out before them are rivers of balsam;
1.83
And they delight and sate themselves with intoxicating cups,
1.84
Sweet wine, guarded in the vat since the Beginning.”
1.85
O meritorious [ones], just as you heard the praise of this song,
1.86
So will you have a fixed place in those fellowships (of the righteous in the world to come);
1.87
And you will merit to sit in the uppermost rank,
1.88
When you heed His words, uttered in glory;
1.89
Exalted is God, in the beginning and the end,
1.90
He took pleasure in us and wanted us, and taught us the Torah.

Sefaria Community Translation. Via Sefaria (sefaria.org), Sefaria-Export. Version source: https://www.sefaria.org Licence: CC0. Source.