בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַזָּן אֶת־הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בְּטוּבוֹ בְּחֵן בְּחֶֽסֶד וּבְרַחֲמִים הוּא נוֹתֵן לֶֽחֶם לְכָל־בָּשָׂר כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ וּבְטוּבוֹ הַגָּדוֹל תָּמִיד לֺא־חָסַר לָֽנוּ וְאַל־יֶחְסַר לָֽנוּ מָזוֹן לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד בַּעֲבוּר שְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל כִּי הוּא אֵל זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל וּמֵכִין מָזוֹן לְכָל־בְּרִיּוֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַזָּן אֶת־הַכֹּל:
Blessed are You, Adonoy our God, King of the Universe, Who nourishes the entire world with His goodness, with favor, with kindness, and with mercy.5The righteous find favor in the eyes of God and are nourished because of their merit. Those who are not so worthy and do not find favor, are provided for through God’s beneficent kindness; while even the least worthy are recipients of God’s mercy.— Maharal in Nesivos Olom He provides food for all flesh,6This citation from Psalms 136:25 indicates that God’s kindness and compassion are universal, relating to all flesh, including animals.—Avudraham. for His kindness endures forever. And through His great goodness, we have never lacked and we will not lack food forever and ever, for the sake of His great Name. For He is Almighty Who nourishes7“Nourishes” refers to food, “maintains” refers to clothing and “does good” refers to shelter. These are the basic needs of man, all of which God provides.—Etz Yosef and maintains all, does good to all, and prepares nourishment for all His creatures which He has created. Blessed are You, Adonoy Who nourishes all.8The first blessing of the Birkas Hamazon was composed by Moses in appreciation for the manna which God provided for the Jews in the desert. The second blessing, beginning with “Let us thank You,” was composed by Joshua in gratitude for the privilege of entering the Promised Land. The third blessing, beginning with “Have mercy,” was composed by David who conquered Jerusalem, and by Solomon who built the Temple. The fourth blessing “Who is good and beneficent to all” was composed by Rabban Gamliel the Elder and his court in Yavneh in gratitude to God for preserving the bodies of the victims of the Roman massacre at Betar, and for being enabled to bring them to proper burial.—Maseches Berachos 48b
נוֹדֶה לְּךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ עַל שֶׁהִנְחַֽלְתָּ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ אֶֽרֶץ חֶמְדָּה טוֹבָה וּרְחָבָה וְעַל שֶׁהוֹצֵאתָֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֵאֶֽרֶץ מִצְרַֽיִם וּפְדִיתָֽנוּ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים וְעַל בְּרִיתְ֒ךָ שֶׁחָתַֽמְתָּ בִּבְשָׂרֵֽנוּ וְעַל תּוֹרָתְ֒ךָ שֶׁלִּמַּדְתָּֽנוּ וְעַל חֻקֶּֽיךָ שֶׁהוֹדַעְתָּֽנוּ וְעַל חַיִּים חֵן וָחֶֽסֶד שֶׁחוֹנַנְתָּֽנוּ וְעַל אֲכִילַת מָזוֹן שָׁאַתָּה זָן וּמְפַרְנֵס אוֹתָֽנוּ תָּמִיד בְּכָל־יוֹם וּבְכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל שָׁעָה:
We thank You, Adonoy, our God, for Your parceling out as a heritage to our fathers, a land9The land is mentioned even before the Exodus from Egypt because God demonstrated His extraordinary concern for the Jewish people at the very beginning of their history; first by the promise He gave to the Patriarchs concerning the Land of Israel and then, with the fulfillment of that promise, once He redeemed them from Egypt to enter the Land.—S.R. Hirsch which is desirable, good, and spacious; for Your bringing us out, Adonoy, our God, from the land of Egypt, and redeeming us from the house of bondage; for Your covenant which You sealed in our flesh; for Your Torah10“Torah” refers to laws which are comprehensible to the human intellect; it is therefore taught. “Statutes” (חֻקִים) are beyond human understanding and are therefore merely made known to man, for man cannot comprehend them. Eyun Tefilloh which You taught us; for Your statutes which You made known to us; for the life, favor, and kindness which You granted us; and for the provision of food with which You nourish and maintain us constantly, every day, at all times and in every hour.
וְעַל הַכֹּל יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ אֲנַֽחְנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ וּמְבָרְ֒כִים אוֹתָךְ יִתְבָּרַךְ שִׁמְךָ בְּפִי כָּל־חַי תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד כַּכָּתוּב וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֶֽיךָ עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ הַטּוֹבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לָךְ בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ וְעַל־הַמָּזוֹן:
For everything Adonoy, our God, We thank You and bless You. Blessed be Your Name through the mouth of all the living, constantly, forever, as it is written: When You have eaten and are satisfied, You will bless Adonoy, your God, for the good land which He has given to you.11Deuteronomy 8:10 Blessed are You, Adonoy, for the land and for the food.
רַחֵם יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמֶּֽךָ וְעַל יְרוּשָׁלַֽיִם עִירֶֽךָ וְעַל צִיּוֹן מִשְׁכַּן כְּבוֹדֶֽךָ וְעַל מַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ וְעַל־הַבַּֽיִת הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ שֶׁנִּקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלָיו אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ אָבִֽינוּ רְעֵֽנוּ זוּנֵֽנוּ פַּרְנְ֒סֵֽנוּ וְכַלְכְּ֒לֵֽנוּ וְהַרְוִיחֵֽנוּ וְהַרְוַח־לָֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מְהֵרָה מִכָּל־צָרוֹתֵֽינוּ וְנָא אַל־תַּצְרִיכֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ לֺא לִידֵי מַתְּ֒נַת בָּשָׂר וָדָם וְלֺא לִידֵי הַלְוָאָתָם כִּי אִם לְיָדְ֒ךָ הַמְּלֵאָה הַפְּ֒תוּחָה הַקְּ֒דוֹשָׁה וְהָרְ֒חָבָה שֶׁלֺּא נֵבוֹשׁ וְלֺא נִכָּלֵם לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
Have compassion, Adonoy, our God, on Israel, Your people, on Jerusalem, Your city, on Zion, the dwelling place of Your glory, on the kingship of the house of David, Your anointed; and on the great and holy House upon which Your Name is called. Our God, our Father tend us, nourish us,12“Tend us” by providing the basic necessities of life such as bread and water; “nourish” us with an enriched diet including foods such as fruits and vegetables.—Etz Yosef maintain us, sustain us, relieve us13“Maintain us” with food and shelter; “sustain us” by providing our needs on a regular basis, not on a feast or famine cycle; and “relieve us” by giving us ample means to live comfortably.—Etz Yosef and grant us relief Adonoy, our God, speedily from all our troubles. Adonoy, our God—may we never be in need of the gifts of men nor of their loans, but only of Your hand which is full, open, holy and generous, so that we may not be shamed nor humiliated14May we not be “ashamed” in this world due to poverty and may we not be “humiliated” in the World-to-Come, because of our transgressions. Poverty often brings shame which in turn might cause a person to lose faith.—Etz Yosef forever and ever.
וּבְנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַֽיִם עִיר הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵֽינוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה בּוֹנֵה בְרַחֲמָיו יְרוּשָׁלָֽיִם, אָמֵן:
Rebuild Jerusalem, city of the Holy Sanctuary, speedily, in our days. Blessed are You, Adonoy, Builder of Jerusalem in His mercy. Amein.16It is unusual for one to answer Amein after his own blessing. This blessing ends with Amein because it marks the end of the three blessings, authority for which is derived from Deuteronomy (8:10) and separates them from the next blessing which is Rabbinic in origin.—Maseches Berachos 45b
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הָאֵל אָבִֽינוּ, מַלְכֵּֽנוּ, אַדִּירֵֽנוּ בּוֹרְ֒אֵֽנוּ, גּוֹאֲלֵֽנוּ, יוֹצְ֒רֵֽנוּ, קְדוֹשֵֽׁנוּ קְדוֹשׁ יַעֲקֹב, רוֹעֵנוּ רוֹעֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַמֶּֽלֶךְ הַטּוֹב, וְהַמֵּטִיב לַכֹּל, שֶׁבְּ֒כָל יוֹם וָיוֹם הוּא הֵטִיב, הוּא מֵטִיב, הוּא יֵיטִיב לָנוּ, הוּא גְמָלָֽנוּ, הוּא גוֹמְ֒לֵֽנוּ, הוּא יִגְמְ֒לֵֽנוּ לָעַד לְחֵן וּלְחֶֽסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים וּלְרֶוַח הַצָּלָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּרָכָה וִישׁוּעָה, נֶחָמָה, פַּרְנָסָה וְכַלְכָּלָה, וְרַחֲמִים, וְחַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם, וְכָל־טוֹב, וּמִכָּל־טוּב לְעוֹלָם אַל יְחַסְּ֒רֵֽנוּ:
Blessed are You, Adonoy our God, King of the Universe, the Almighty, our Father, our King, our Mighty One, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Maker, our Holy One, Holy One of Jacob, our Shepherd, Shepherd of Israel, the King, Who is good and beneficent to all. Every single day He has done good, does good, and will do good to us. He has rewarded us, He rewards us, He will reward us forever with favor, kindness, and compassion, relief, rescue, and success, blessing, deliverance, and consolation, maintenance, sustenance, compassion, life, peace, and everything good; and of all good things may He never deprive us.17Many people are granted the bounties of life but are unable to enjoy them. We first invoke God’s blessing for all the good things in life and then ask Him to grant us the privilege of enjoying them.—Iyun Tefilloh.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִמְלוֹךְ עָלֵֽינוּ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
The Merciful One will reign over us forever and ever.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִתְבָּרַךְ בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם וּבָאָֽרֶץ:
The Merciful One will be blessed in heaven and on earth.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁתַּבַּח לְדוֹר דּוֹרִים, וְיִתְפָּאַר בָּֽנוּ לָעַד וּלְנֵֽצַח נְצָחִים, וְיִתְהַדַּר בָּֽנוּ לָעַד וּלְעוֹלְ֒מֵי עוֹלָמִים:
The Merciful One will be praised for all generations, He will be glorified through us forever and for all eternity; and He will be honored through us for time everlasting.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְפַרְנְ֒סֵֽנוּ בְּכָבוֹד:
May the Merciful One maintain us with honor.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁבּוֹר עֻלֵּֽנוּ מֵעַל צַוָּארֵֽנוּ וְהוּא יוֹלִיכֵֽנוּ קוֹמְ֒מִיּוּת לְאַרְצֵֽנוּ:
The Merciful One will break the yoke (of oppression) from our necks and lead us upright to our land.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח לָֽנוּ בְּרָכָה מְרֻבָּה בַּבַּֽיִת הַזֶּה וְעַל־שֻׁלְחָן זֶה שֶׁאָכַֽלְנוּ עָלָיו:
May the Merciful One send us abundant blessing to this house, and upon this table at which we have eaten.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יִשְׁלַח לָֽנוּ אֶת־אֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַנָּבִיא זָכוּר לַטּוֹב, וִיבַשֶּׂר־לָֽנוּ בְּשׂוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת יְשׁוּעוֹת וְנֶחָמוֹת:
The Merciful One will send us Elijah the prophet, who is remembered for good, who will announce to us good tidings, deliverances, and consolations.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אוֹתִי (וְאֶת־אִשְׁתִּי/בַּעֲלִי וְאֶת־זַרְעִי) וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לִי.
May the Merciful One bless me, my spouse, my children, and all that is mine;
אוֹתָֽנוּ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לָֽנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּרְ֒כוּ אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ, אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב: בַּכֹּל, מִכֹּל, כֹּל, כֵּן יְבָרֵךְ אוֹתָֽנוּ כֻּלָּֽנוּ יַֽחַד, בִּבְרָכָה שְׁלֵמָה, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:
Ours and all that is ours— just as our forefathers were blessed— Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— In all things,19Abraham was blessed “in all things.” Genesis 24:1 “From everything,”20Isaac said: “I have partaken from everything.” Genesis 27:33 and “With everything”;21Jacob said: “I have everything.” Genesis 33:11 so may He bless us, all of us together, with a perfect blessing and let us say Amein.
בַּמָּרוֹם יְלַמְּ֒דוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וְעָלֵֽינוּ זְכוּת שֶׁתְּ֒הֵא לְמִשְׁמֶֽרֶת שָׁלוֹם, וְנִשָּׂא בְרָכָה מֵאֵת יְהֹוָה וּצְדָקָה מֵאֱלֺהֵי יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ, וְנִמְצָא חֵן וְשֵֽׂכֶל טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱלֺהִים וְאָדָם:
From on high, may there be invoked upon them and upon us, [the] merit to insure peace, And may we receive a blessing from Adonoy, and kindness from the God of our deliverance; and may we find favor and understanding in the eyes of God and man.
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְזַכֵּֽנוּ לִימוֹת הַמָּשִֽׁיחַ וּלְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, מַגְדִּיל יְשׁוּעוֹת מַלְכּוֹ (בשבת וביו"ט אומר: מִגְדּוֹל יְשׁוּעוֹת מַלְכּוֹ), וְעֹֽשֶׂה חֶֽסֶד לִמְשִׁיחוֹ לְדָוִד וּלְזַרְעוֹ עַד עוֹלָם: עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו, הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵֽינוּ וְעַל כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
May the Merciful One make us worthy of the days of the Messiah and life of the World to Come. He who gives great deliverance to His king, (On Shabbos and Yom Tov say: He who is a tower of deliverance to His king,22During weekdays when we feel the darkness of exile we say: “God gives deliverance to His king,” thus acknowledging His preparation for the time of redemption. On Shabbos and Yom Tov which are reminiscent of the time of the Messiah, when God will be a tower of deliverance, we state it as a fact.) and shows kindness to His anointed— to David and his descendants forever.23II Samuel 22:51 He Who makes peace in His high heavens may He make peace for us and for all Israel, and say, Amein.
יְראוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה קְדוֹשָׁיו, כִּי אֵין מַחְסוֹר לִירֵאָיו: כְּפִירִים רָשׁוּ וְרָעֵֽבוּ, וְדוֹרְ֒שֵׁי יְהֹוָה לֺא־יַחְסְ֒רוּ כָל־טוֹב: הוֹדוּ לַיהוָֹה כִּי־טוֹב, כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: פּוֹתֵֽחַ אֶת־יָדֶֽךָ, וּמַשְׂבִּֽיעַ לְכָל־חַי רָצוֹן: בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּֽבֶר אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּיהוָֹה, וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה מִבְטַחוֹ: נַֽעַר הָיִֽיתִי גַם־זָקַֽנְתִּי וְלֺא־רָאִֽיתִי צַדִּיק נֶעֱזָב, וְזַרְעוֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־לָֽחֶם: יְהֹוָה עוֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן, יְהֹוָה יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־עַמּוֹ בַּשָּׁלוֹם:
Fear Adonoy, [you] His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no deprivation. Young lions may feel want and hunger, but those who seek Adonoy, will not be deprived of any good thing.24Psalms 34:10-11 Give thanks to Adonoy, for He is good, for His kindness endures forever.25Psalms 136:1 You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living being.26Psalms 145:16 Blessed is the man who trusts in Adonoy, so that Adonoy is his security.27Jeremiah 17:7 I was young and I have grown old, yet I have never seen a righteous man forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.28Psalms 37:25 Adonoy will give strength to His people, Adonoy will bless His people with peace.29Psalms 29:11