The full Birkat HaMazon

Psalm 137 is recited before Birkas Hamazon on weekdays in memory of the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash: By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and we also wept, when we remembered Zion. Upon the willows in its midst, we hung our harps. For there our captors demanded of us words of song, and our tormentors asked of us [with] mirth; Sing to us from the song[s] of Zion. How shall we sing the song of Adonoy on alien soil? If I ever forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget [its movement]. May my tongue cleave to my palate, if I remember you not; if I set not Jerusalem above my highest joy. Remember, Adonoy, to the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, [it was they] who said, Raze it, raze it to its very foundation. Daughter of Babylon, you are the annihilated one; fortunate is he who will repay you for all you have done to us. Fortunate is he who will take and dash your little ones against the rock. Psalm 126 is recited on Shabbos, Yom Tov and other festive occasions such as weddings, circumcisions or redemption of the first born. A Song of Ascents. When Adonoy brings about the return to Zion we will have been like dreamers. Then will our mouths be filled with laughter, and our tongue with joyous song. Then will they say among the nations: ‘Adonoy has done great things for them.’ Adonoy had done great things for us; we will [then] rejoice. Adonoy! bring back our exiles like springs in the desert. Those who sow in tears will reap with joyous song. [Though] he walks along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will return with joyous song carrying his sheaves. When three or more males, aged 13 or older eat together one of them leads the group in reciting the Birkas Hamazon. The leader begins by saying: “Gentlemen, let us say the blessing: The others respond: The Name of Adonoy will be blessed from now forever. The leader repeats: “The Name of Adonoy will be blessed from now forever.” The leader continues: (the words “our God” are substituted for “Him” and “He” if ten males are in the group): “With your permission our masters and teachers, Let us bless (our God,) Him, for we have eaten of His bounty.” The others respond accordingly: Blessed is (our God) He for we have eaten of His bounty and through His goodness we live. One who did not eat, responds: Blessed is (our God) He, and His Name constantly, forever and ever. The leader repeats: “Blessed is (our God) He for we have eaten of His bounty and through His goodness we live.” Some add: Blessed is He and blessed is His Name. FIRST BERACHA 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. He provides food for all flesh, 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 nourishes 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. SECOND BERACHA We thank You, Adonoy, our God, for Your parceling out as a heritage to our fathers, a land 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 Torah 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. On regular weekdays, continue, “For everything”. On Chanukah and Purim add עַל הַנִּסִּים. If you forgot to say עַל הַנִּסִּים, you may include it when you reach הָרַחֲמָן by saying: הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה־לָּנוּ נִסִים וְנִפְלָאוֹת כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה. and then continue on Chanukah with: בִּימֵי מַתִּתְיָהוּ, and on Purim with: בִּימֵי מָרְדְּכַי וְאֶסְתֵּר. If you reminded yourself before concluding the second blessing עַל הָאָרֶץ וְעַל הַמָּזוֹן, you may repeat it at that time and continue with the Birkas Hamazon. [We thank You] for the miracles for the redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the deliverances, for the wonders for the consolations and for the wars that You performed for our fathers in those days at this season. On Chanukah: In the days of Matisyahu, son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons, when the evil Greek kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to turn them away from the statutes of Your will— You, in Your abundant mercy, stood by them in their time of distress, You defended their cause, You judged their grievances, You avenged them. You delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak, many into the hands of the few, defiled people into the hands of the undefiled, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and insolent [sinners] into the hands of diligent students of Your Torah. And You made Yourself a great and sanctified name in Your world. And for Your people, Israel, You performed a great deliverance and redemption unto this very day. Afterwards, Your sons entered the Holy of Holies of Your Abode, cleaned Your Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, and kindled lights in the Courtyards of Your Sanctuary, and designated these eight days of Chanukah to thank and praise Your great Name. On Purim: In the days of Mordechai and Esther in Shushan the Capital [of Persia], when the evil Haman rose up against them, he sought to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their wealth And You, in Your abundant mercy, annulled his counsel, frustrated his intention, and brought his evil plan upon his own head, and they hanged him and his sons upon the gallows. 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. Blessed are You, Adonoy, for the land and for the food. THIRD BERACHA 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, maintain us, sustain us, relieve us 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 humiliated forever and ever. On regular weekdays, continue, “Rebuild”. On Shabbos add: May it please You, to strengthen us Adonoy, our God, through Your commandments, and through the commandment of the seventh day, this great and holy Sabbath. For this day is great and holy before You, to refrain from work on it and to rest on it with love, as ordained by Your will. And by Your will, grant us repose Adonoy, our God, that there be no distress, sorrow, or sighing on the day of our rest. Show us Adonoy, our God, the consolation of Zion, Your city, and the rebuilding of Jerusalem, city of Your Sanctuary, for You are the Master of deliverance and the Master of consolation. On Rosh Chodesh and Yom Tov add: Our God and God of our fathers, may there ascend, come, and reach, appear, be desired, and heard, counted and recalled our remembrance and reckoning; the remembrance of our fathers; the remembrance of the Messiah the son of David, Your servant; the remembrance of Jerusalem, city of Your Sanctuary; and the remembrance of Your entire people, the House of Israel, before You for survival, for well-being, for favor, kindliness, compassion, for life and peace on this day of: Rosh Chodesh the Festival of Matzos the Festival of Sukkos the Festival of Shmini Atseres Remembrance Remember us Adonoy, our God, on this day for well-being; be mindful of us on this day for blessing, and deliver us for life. In accord with the promise of deliverance and compassion, spare us and favor us, have compassion on us and deliver us; for to You our eyes are directed because You are the Almighty Who is King, Gracious, and Merciful. If you forgot to say רְצֵה or יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא and became aware of it before starting the fourth blessing (הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב), or even if you are in doubt, see below for the appropriate blessing. If you reminded yourself after you had already begun the fourth blessing and have said: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', then you must repeat the entire Birkas Hamazon. These laws apply only to Shabbos, and the Festival days of Pesach, Shavuos and Sukkos. On Chol Ha-Moed or on Rosh Chodesh days that do not fall on Shabbos, you need not repeat the Birkas Hamazon even though you began the blessing of הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב. Rebuild Jerusalem, city of the Holy Sanctuary, speedily, in our days. Blessed are You, Adonoy, Builder of Jerusalem in His mercy. Amein. FOURTH BERACHA 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. The Merciful One will reign over us forever and ever. The Merciful One will be blessed in heaven and on earth. 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. May the Merciful One maintain us with honor. The Merciful One will break the yoke (of oppression) from our necks and lead us upright to our land. May the Merciful One send us abundant blessing to this house, and upon this table at which we have eaten. The Merciful One will send us Elijah the prophet, who is remembered for good, who will announce to us good tidings, deliverances, and consolations. When eating at your parents’ table, say: May the Merciful One bless my father, my teacher, the master of this house, and my mother, my teacher, the mistress of this house; them, their household, their children and all that is theirs. When eating at your own table, say: May the Merciful One bless me, my spouse, my children, and all that is mine; Ours and all that is ours— just as our forefathers were blessed— Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— In all things, “From everything,” and “With everything”; so may He bless us, all of us together, with a perfect blessing and let us say Amein. A guest says: May it be God’s will that the host should not be shamed and not humiliated not in this world nor in the World to Come. And he will be successful with all his possessions. May his properties prosper and be located close to town. May no evil force have power over his endeavors. May no opportunity present itself before him any matter of sin, nor thought of iniquity from now forever. 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. On Shabbos say: May the Merciful One let us inherit the day which will be completely Shabbos and rest, for life everlasting. On Rosh Chodesh say: May the Merciful One renew for us this month for good and for blessing. On Yom Tov say: May the Merciful One let us inherit that day which is completely good. On Rosh Hashono say: May the Merciful One renew for us this year for good and for blessing. On Sukkos say: May the Merciful One raise up for us the fallen Tabernacle of David. 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,) and shows kindness to His anointed— to David and his descendants forever. He Who makes peace in His high heavens may He make peace for us and for all Israel, and say, Amein. 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. Give thanks to Adonoy, for He is good, for His kindness endures forever. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living being. Blessed is the man who trusts in Adonoy, so that Adonoy is his security. I was young and I have grown old, yet I have never seen a righteous man forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. Adonoy will give strength to His people, Adonoy will bless His people with peace.