(א) שָׁנוּ חֲכָמִים בִּלְשׁוֹן הַמִּשְׁנָה, בָּרוּךְ שֶׁבָּחַר בָּהֶם וּבְמִשְׁנָתָם:
רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר כָּל הָעוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה לִשְׁמָהּ, זוֹכֶה לִדְבָרִים הַרְבֵּה. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁכָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ כְדַי הוּא לוֹ. נִקְרָא רֵעַ, אָהוּב, אוֹהֵב אֶת הַמָּקוֹם, אוֹהֵב אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת, מְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת הַמָּקוֹם, מְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת. וּמַלְבַּשְׁתּוֹ עֲנָוָה וְיִרְאָה, וּמַכְשַׁרְתּוֹ לִהְיוֹת צַדִּיק וְחָסִיד וְיָשָׁר וְנֶאֱמָן, וּמְרַחַקְתּוֹ מִן הַחֵטְא, וּמְקָרַבְתּוֹ לִידֵי זְכוּת, וְנֶהֱנִין מִמֶּנּוּ עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה בִּינָה וּגְבוּרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ח) לִי עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה אֲנִי בִינָה לִי גְבוּרָה. וְנוֹתֶנֶת לוֹ מַלְכוּת וּמֶמְשָׁלָה וְחִקּוּר דִּין, וּמְגַלִּין לוֹ רָזֵי תוֹרָה, וְנַעֲשֶׂה כְמַעְיָן הַמִּתְגַּבֵּר וּכְנָהָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ פוֹסֵק, וֶהֱוֵי צָנוּעַ וְאֶרֶךְ רוּחַ, וּמוֹחֵל עַל עֶלְבּוֹנוֹ, וּמְגַדַּלְתּוֹ וּמְרוֹמַמְתּוֹ עַל כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים:
(1) The sages taught in the language of the mishnah. Blessed be He who chose them and their teaching. Rabbi Meir said: Whoever occupies himself with the Torah for its own sake, merits many things; not only that but he is worth the whole world.He is called beloved friend; one that loves God; one that loves humankind; one that gladdens God; one that gladdens humankind. And the Torah clothes him in humility and reverence, and equips him to be righteous, pious, upright and trustworthy; it keeps him far from sin, and brings him near to merit. And people benefit from his counsel, sound knowledge, understanding and strength, as it is said, “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, strength is mine” (Proverbs 8:14). And it bestows upon him royalty, dominion, and acuteness in judgment. To him are revealed the secrets of the Torah, and he is made as an ever-flowing spring, and like a stream that never ceases. And he becomes modest, long-suffering and forgiving of insult. And it magnifies him and exalts him over everything.
(ה) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(ו) שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ
(ז) הוּא בוֹרֵא וּמַנְהִיג
(ח) לְכָל הַבְּ֒רוּאִים
(ט) וְהוּא לְבַדּוֹ עָשָׂה וְעוֹשֶׂה
(י) וְיַעֲשֶׂה לְכָל הַמַּעֲשִׂים:
(יא) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(יב) שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ
(יג) הוּא יָחִיד
(יד) וְאֵין יְחִידוּת כָּמֽוֹהוּ
(טו) בְּשׁוּם פָּנִים
(טז) וְהוּא לְבַדּוֹ אֱלֺקֵֽינוּ
(יז) הָיָה הֹוֶה וְיִהְיֶה:
(יח) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(יט) שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ
(כ) אֵינוֹ גוּף
(כא) וְלֺא יַשִּׂיגֽוּהוּ מַשִּׂיגֵי הַגּוּף
(כב) וְאֵין לוֹ שׁוּם דִּמְיוֹן כְּלָל:
(כג) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(כד) שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ
(כה) הוּא רִאשׁוֹן וְהוּא אַחֲרוֹן:
(כו) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(כז) שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ
(כח) לוֹ לְבַדּוֹ רָאוּי לְהִתְפַּלֵּל
(כט) וְאֵין לְזוּלָתוֹ
(ל) רָאוּי לְהִתְפַּלֵּל:
(לא) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(לב) שֶׁכָּל דִּבְ֒רֵי נְבִיאִים אֱמֶת:
(לג) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(לד) שֶׁנְּ֒בוּאַת משֶׁה רַבֵּֽנוּ
(לה) עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם
(לו) הָיְ֒תָה אֲמִתִּית
(לז) וְשֶׁהוּא הָיָה אָב לַנְּ֒בִיאִים
(לח) לַקּוֹדְ֒מִים לְפָנָיו
(לט) וְלַבָּאִים אַחֲרָיו:
(מ) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(מא) שֶׁכָּל הַתּוֹרָה
(מב) הַמְּ֒צוּיָה עַתָּה בְיָדֵֽינוּ
(מג) הִיא הַנְּ֒תוּנָה
(מד) לְמשֶׁה רַבֵּֽנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם:
(מה) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(מו) שֶׁזֹּאת הַתּוֹרָה לֺא תְהֵא מֻחְלֶֽפֶת
(מז) וְלֺא תְהֵא תוֹרָה אַחֶֽרֶת
(מח) מֵאֵת הַבּוֹרֵא
(מט) יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ:
(נ) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(נא) שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ
(נב) יוֹדֵֽעַ כָּל מַעֲשֵׂה בְנֵי אָדָם
(נג) וְכָל מַחְשְׁ֒בוֹתָם
(נד) שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר
(נה) הַיֹּצֵר יַֽחַד לִבָּם
(נו) הַמֵּבִין אֶל כָּל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם:
(נז) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(נח) שֶׁהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ
(נט) גּוֹמֵל טוֹב לְשׁוֹמְ֒רֵי מִצְוֹתָיו
(ס) וּמַעֲנִישׁ
(סא) לְעוֹבְ֒רֵי מִצְוֹתָיו:
(סב) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(סג) בְּבִיאַת הַמָּשִֽׁיחַ
(סד) וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיִּתְמַהְמֵֽהַּ
(סה) עִם כָּל זֶה
(סו) אֲחַכֶּה לּוֹ בְּכָל יוֹם שֶׁיָּבוֹא:
(סז) אֲנִי מַאֲמִין בֶּאֱמוּנָה שְׁלֵמָה
(סח) שֶׁתִּהְיֶה תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים
(סט) בְּעֵת שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה רָצוֹן
(ע) מֵאֵת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ
(עא) וְיִתְעַלֶּה זִכְרוֹ לָעַד
(עב) וּלְ֒נֵֽצַח נְצָחִים:
(עג) לִישׁוּעָתְ֒ךָ קִוּיתִי יקוק, קִוּיתִי יקוק לִישׁוּעָתְ֒ךָ, יקוק לִישׁוּעָתְ֒ךָ קִוּיתִי: לְפֻרְקָנָךְ סַבְּ֒רִית יקוק, סַבְּ֒רִית יקוק לְפֻרְקָנָךְ, יקוק לְפֻרְקָנָךְ סַבָּרִית:
(1) Many great medieval scholars formulated articles of faith, among them Rav Saadya Gaon, Rav Yehuda Halevi, Rabbeinu Bachya. Maimonides, the foremost of them all, formulated thirteen principles that have attained wide recognition and enduring fame.
(2) The thirteen principles fall into three groups: The first five declare the existence of God as the Creator, One, incorporeal, eternal and alone worthy of man's worship.
(3) The next four deal with the Divine revelation of the Torah, the authenticity of prophecy, particularly that of Moses, and the immutability of the Torah.
(4) The last four deal with God in history, reward and punishment, belief in the coming of Messiah, and the resurrection of the dead.
(5) 1. I believe with complete faith
(6) that the Creator, blessed is His Name,
(7) is the Creator and Guide
(8) of all created things,
(9) and He alone has made, does make,
(10) and will make all things.
(11) 2. I believe with complete faith
(12) that the Creator, blessed is His Name,
(13) is unique,
(14) and there is no uniqueness like His
(15) in any manner;
(16) and that He alone is our God,
(17) Who was, is, and will ever be.
(18) 3. I believe with complete faith
(19) that the Creator, blessed is His Name,
(20) is not corporeal,
(21) and that He is beyond all corporeal concepts,
(22) and there is nothing at all comparable to Him.
(23) 4. I believe with complete faith
(24) that the Creator, blessed is His Name,
(25) is First and Last.
(26) 5. I believe with complete faith
(27) that the Creator, blessed is His Name,
(28) is the only One to Whom it is proper to pray,
(29) and to no being beside Him
(30) is it proper to pray.
(31) 6. I believe with complete faith
(32) that all the words of the prophets are true.
(33) 7. I believe with complete faith
(34) that the prophecy of our teacher, Moses,
(35) may he rest in peace,
(36) was true,
(37) and that he was the father of all prophets,
(38) —of those who preceded him,
(39) and of those who followed him.
(40) 8. I believe with complete faith
(41) that the entire Torah
(42) which is now in our possession,
(43) is the very one that was given
(44) to our teacher Moses, may he rest in peace.
(45) 9. I believe with complete faith
(46) that this Torah will not be exchanged,
(47) and that no additional Torah
(48) [will be given] by the Creator,
(49) blessed is His Name.
(50) 10. I believe with complete faith
(51) that the Creator, blessed is His Name,
(52) knows all the deeds of men
(53) and all their thoughts,
(54) as it is said,
(55) He Who forms all their hearts as one,
(56) Who comprehends all their deeds.
(57) 11. I believe with complete faith
(58) that the Creator, blessed is His Name,
(59) rewards those who keep His commandments,
(60) and punishes those
(61) who transgress His commandments.
(62) 12. I believe with complete faith
(63) in the coming of the Messiah
(64) and even though he may tarry,
(65) nevertheless,
(66) I yearn every day for his coming.
(67) 13. I believe with complete faith
(68) that there will be a resurrection of the dead
(69) at a time that pleases
(70) the Creator, blessed is His Name,
(71) and His Name will be exalted forever
(72) and to all eternity.