Akdamut Milin
- 1.1
Before reciting the Ten Commandments,
- 1.2
I first ask permission and approval
- 1.3
To start with two or three stanzas in fear
- 1.4
Of God who creates and ever sustains.
- 1.5
He has endless might, not to be described
- 1.6
Were the skies parchment, were all the reeds quills,
- 1.7
Were the seas and all waters made of ink,
- 1.8
Were all the world’s inhabitants made scribes.
- 1.9
The glorious Lord of heaven and earth,
- 1.10
Alone, formed the world, veiled in mystery.
- 1.11
Without exertion did he perfect it,
- 1.12
Only by a light sign, without substance.
- 1.13
He accomplished all his work in six days;
- 1.14
His glory ascended a throne of fire.
- 1.15
Millions of legions are at his service;
- 1.16
Fresh each morning they flourish with great faith.
- 1.17
More glowing are the six-winged seraphim,
- 1.18
Who keep silence till leave is given them.
- 1.19
Without delay they call to one another:
- 1.20
“God’s majestic splendor fills the whole earth!”
- 1.21
Like a mighty thunder, like ocean’s roar,
- 1.22
The cherubim and the spheres rise loudly
- 1.23
To gaze at the rainbowlike appearance.
- 1.24
Wherever sent, they hasten anxiously,
- 1.25
Whispering praise in each tongue: “Blessed be
- 1.26
His glory in his entire universe.”
- 1.27
All the heavenly hosts shout praise in awe:
- 1.28
“His glory shines forever and ever!”
- 1.29
Their hymn is timed; when the hour is gone,
- 1.30
They shall at no period chant it again.
- 1.31
Dear to him are the people of Israel,
- 1.32
Acclaiming him each morning and evening.
- 1.33
They are dedicated to do his will;
- 1.34
His wonders, his praises, they declare hourly.
- 1.35
He desires them to toil in the Torah,
- 1.36
So that their prayer be well accepted,
- 1.37
Bound up in the crown of the Eternal,
- 1.38
Securely set near the precious frontlet.
- 1.39
His frontlet is most skillfully inscribed:
- 1.40
“Great is Israel who proclaims God’s Oneness.”
- 1.41
The praise of the world’s Lord, in pure homage,
- 1.42
I am pleased to declare before the kings.
- 1.43
They come and gather like the surging waves,
- 1.44
Wondering and asking about the signs:
- 1.45
Whence and who is your beloved, O fair one?
- 1.46
For whom do you die in the lion’s den?
- 1.47
Most precious are you; if you merge with us,
- 1.48
We will do your will in all the regions.
- 1.49
With wisdom I answer them concisely:
- 1.50
You must recognize and acknowledge him!
- 1.51
Of what value is your glory compared
- 1.52
With all that God will do for me in due time,
- 1.53
When light will come to me and shame to you,
- 1.54
When he will reveal himself in great might?
- 1.55
He will repay the foes in all the isles;
- 1.56
Triumph to the dear and upright people!
- 1.57
Perfect joy, pure delight, will come into
- 1.58
Jerusalem when he will gather the exiles.
- 1.59
His glory will shield Zion day and night,
- 1.60
While his tent for praise will be made in it
- 1.61
Under a splendid canopy of bright clouds.
- 1.62
For each godly man a booth will be made,
- 1.63
Furnished with a gold throne of seven steps.
- 1.64
The righteous will be arrayed before God,
- 1.65
Their sights resembling sevenfold delight,
- 1.66
The brilliant sky and the luminous stars –
- 1.67
A splendor that no language can describe,
- 1.68
That was not heard of nor viewed by prophets.
- 1.69
No eye has penetrated Paradise,
- 1.70
Where the righteous dance in presence of God,
- 1.71
Reverently pointing out: “This is he
- 1.72
For whom we looked in exile with firm faith!
- 1.73
He now gently guides us eternally,
- 1.74
Granting us the share long reserved for us.:
- 1.75
Leviathan contends with Behemoth;
- 1.76
They are locked in combat with each other.
- 1.77
Behemoth gores mightily with its horns;
- 1.78
The sea-monster counters with potent fins.
- 1.79
The Creator slays them with his great sword,
- 1.80
And prepares a banquet for the righteous,
- 1.81
Who sit in rows at tables of precious stones,
- 1.82
While before them there flow streams of balsam,
- 1.83
And they indulge themselves and drink full cups
- 1.84
Of the precious old wine preserved in vats.
- 1.85
You upright, having heard this hymn of praise,
- 1.86
May you be in that blissful company!
- 1.87
You will merit to sit in the first row
- 1.88
If you will obey God’s majestic words.
- 1.89
God, exalted from beginning to end,
- 1.90
Was pleased with us and gave us the Torah.
Birnbaum 1949. Via Sefaria (sefaria.org), Sefaria-Export. Version source: Daily Prayer Book - Translated and Annotated with an Introduction by Philip Birnbaum, 1949 Licence: Public Domain. Source.