Birth and new life: prayers in Judaism

Texts from their published editions. Guidance on what this tradition does at this moment is on the occasion page, and background on the tradition is at /traditions/jewish.

Texts from their published editions

Each text below comes from the edition named under it and was checked twice, independently, before it appeared. Neither check was a person. Where the two disagreed by even one character, the text is not shown here. That is a claim about wording only: these are not selected or endorsed for any particular situation, and nobody credentialed in the tradition has signed them. Older spelling is kept as the edition prints it. The full record, including the texts we held back because the two transcriptions disagreed, is at the verification record.

The Priestly Blessing (JPS 1917)

The three-verse blessing of Numbers 6:24-26, pronounced by kohanim in the synagogue service and used by parents to bless children on Sabbath eve and at weddings and other life-cycle moments. Its synagogue recitation is restricted to those of priestly descent; its domestic use is not.

English · The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text (JPS), 1917Read twice, independently

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee;

The LORD make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917. Published 1917, before 1929, US public domain. Source

Out of copyright in the United States on the basis stated here, and free to reuse there. Please keep the citation with it.

Hebrew · Tanach with Nikkud, a digital edition of the Leningrad Codex, 2026Checked against a second encoding

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃

יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃

יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם׃

Sefaria, from the Unicode/XML Leningrad Codex at tanach.us, 2026. Tanach.us states that all biblical Hebrew text on its site may be viewed or copied without restriction, and Sefaria labels this version Public Domain. Retrieved and verified 2026-09-02. Cite as: Numbers 6:24-26, Tanach with Nikkud, a digital edition of the Leningrad Codex, via Sefaria.org. Source

Out of copyright in the United States on the basis stated here, and free to reuse there. Please keep the citation with it.

This prayer’s own page · How this text was verified

Wording and scope vary between editions and between communities, so each edition here is named and this entry makes no claim about which form is right in a given setting.

The Priestly Blessing (Singer 1904)

The three-verse blessing of Numbers 6:24-26, pronounced by kohanim in the synagogue service and used by parents to bless children on Sabbath eve and at weddings and other life-cycle moments. Its synagogue recitation is restricted to those of priestly descent; its domestic use is not.

English · The Authorised Daily Prayer Book, with a New Translation, seventh edition, 1904Read twice, independently

Our God and God of our fathers, bless us with the three-fold blessing of thy Law written by the hand of Moses thy servant, which was spoken by Aaron and his sons, the priests, thy holy people, as it is said, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee : the Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee : the Lord turn his face unto thee, and give thee peace.

Simeon Singer. Eyre and Spottiswoode, London, 1904. Seventh edition, published 1904, before 1929, US public domain. The work first appeared in 1890 and the translator died in 1906, so it is also clear in life-plus-70 jurisdictions. Source

Out of copyright in the United States on the basis stated here, and free to reuse there. Please keep the citation with it.

This prayer’s own page · How this text was verified

Wording and scope vary between editions and between communities, so this entry is tied to one named edition and makes no claim about which form is right in a given setting.

Psalm 113 (JPS 1917)

The first psalm of Hallel, sung on festivals and at the Passover table. It ends with the childless woman made a joyful mother of children, which is why it is turned to by those hoping for a child.

English · The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text (JPS), 1917Checked against a second digitisation

Hallelujah.

Praise, O ye servants of the LORD,

Praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD

From this time forth and for ever.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof

The LORD'S name is to be praised.

The LORD is high above all nations,

His glory is above the heavens.

Who is like unto the LORD our God,

That is enthroned on high,

That looketh down low

Upon heaven and upon the earth?

Who raiseth up the poor out of the dust,

And lifteth up the needy out of the dunghill;

That He may set him with princes,

Even with the princes of His people.

Who maketh the barren woman to dwell in her house

As a joyful mother of children.

Hallelujah.

Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917. Published 1917, before 1929, US public domain. Retrieved and verified 2026-09-17. Source

Out of copyright in the United States on the basis stated here, and free to reuse there. Please keep the citation with it.

Hebrew · Tanach with Nikkud, a digital edition of the Leningrad Codex, 2026Checked against a second encoding

הַלְלוּ יָהּ הַלְלוּ עַבְדֵי יְהוָה הַלְלוּ אֶת־שֵׁם יְהוָה׃

יְהִי שֵׁם יְהוָה מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם׃

מִמִּזְרַח־שֶׁמֶשׁ עַד־מְבוֹאוֹ מְהֻלָּל שֵׁם יְהוָה׃

רָם עַל־כָּל־גּוֹיִם יְהוָה עַל הַשָּׁמַיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ׃

מִי כַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ הַמַּגְבִּיהִי לָשָׁבֶת׃

הַמַּשְׁפִּילִי לִרְאוֹת בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ׃

מְקִימִי מֵעָפָר דָּל מֵאַשְׁפֹּת יָרִים אֶבְיוֹן׃

לְהוֹשִׁיבִי עִם־נְדִיבִים עִם נְדִיבֵי עַמּוֹ׃

מוֹשִׁיבִי עֲקֶרֶת הַבַּיִת אֵם־הַבָּנִים שְׂמֵחָה הַלְלוּ־יָהּ׃

Sefaria, from the Unicode/XML Leningrad Codex at tanach.us, 2026. Tanach.us states that all biblical Hebrew text on its site may be viewed or copied without restriction, and Sefaria labels this version Public Domain. Retrieved and verified 2026-09-17. Cite as: Psalms 113:1-9, Tanach with Nikkud, a digital edition of the Leningrad Codex, via Sefaria.org. Source

Out of copyright in the United States on the basis stated here, and free to reuse there. Please keep the citation with it.

This prayer’s own page · How this text was verified

Wording and scope vary between editions and between communities, so each edition here is named and this entry makes no claim about which form is right in a given setting. The English keeps the line breaks of one digitisation of the 1917 volume. The second, which it was checked against, stores each verse as running text, so it confirms the words and cannot confirm where a line ends.

Psalm 128 (JPS 1917)

A Song of Ascents blessing the household: work that feeds, a marriage, children round the table. It is said at the close of the Sabbath and in the bedtime prayers, and it is associated with weddings.

English · The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text (JPS), 1917Checked against a second digitisation

A Song of Ascents.

Happy is every one that feareth the LORD,

That walketh in His ways.

When thou eatest the labour of thy hands,

Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of thy house;

Thy children like olive plants, round about thy table.

Behold, surely thus shall the man be blessed

That feareth the LORD.

The LORD bless thee out of Zion;

And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life;

And see thy children's children.

Peace be upon Israel!

Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917. Published 1917, before 1929, US public domain. Retrieved and verified 2026-09-17. Source

Out of copyright in the United States on the basis stated here, and free to reuse there. Please keep the citation with it.

Hebrew · Tanach with Nikkud, a digital edition of the Leningrad Codex, 2026Checked against a second encoding

שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת אַשְׁרֵי כָּל־יְרֵא יְהוָה הַהֹלֵךְ בִּדְרָכָיו׃

יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ׃

אֶשְׁתְּךָ כְּגֶפֶן פֹּרִיָּה בְּיַרְכְּתֵי בֵיתֶךָ בָּנֶיךָ כִּשְׁתִלֵי זֵיתִים סָבִיב לְשֻׁלְחָנֶךָ׃

הִנֵּה כִי־כֵן יְבֹרַךְ גָּבֶר יְרֵא יְהוָה׃

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה מִצִּיּוֹן וּרְאֵה בְּטוּב יְרוּשָׁלִָם כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ׃

וּרְאֵה־בָנִים לְבָנֶיךָ שָׁלוֹם עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

Sefaria, from the Unicode/XML Leningrad Codex at tanach.us, 2026. Tanach.us states that all biblical Hebrew text on its site may be viewed or copied without restriction, and Sefaria labels this version Public Domain. Retrieved and verified 2026-09-17. Cite as: Psalms 128:1-6, Tanach with Nikkud, a digital edition of the Leningrad Codex, via Sefaria.org. Source

Out of copyright in the United States on the basis stated here, and free to reuse there. Please keep the citation with it.

This prayer’s own page · How this text was verified

Wording and scope vary between editions and between communities, so each edition here is named and this entry makes no claim about which form is right in a given setting. The English keeps the line breaks of one digitisation of the 1917 volume. The second, which it was checked against, stores each verse as running text, so it confirms the words and cannot confirm where a line ends.

Psalm 20 (JPS 1917)

A prayer that God answer in the day of trouble. It stands near the end of the weekday morning service, and it is customarily said for a person in danger, including for a woman in labour.

English · The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text (JPS), 1917Checked against a second digitisation

For the Leader. A Psalm of David.

The LORD answer thee in the day of trouble;

The name of the God of Jacob set thee up on high;

Send forth thy help from the sanctuary,

And support thee out of Zion;

Receive the memorial of all thy meal-offerings,

And accept the fat of thy burnt-sacrifice; Selah

Grant thee according to thine own heart,

And fulfil all thy counsel.

We will shout for joy in thy victory,

And in the name of our God we will set up our standards;

The LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed;

He will answer him from His holy heaven

With the mighty acts of His saving right hand.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will make mention of the name of the LORD our God.

They are bowed down and fallen;

But we are risen, and stand upright.

Save, LORD;

Let the King answer us in the day that we call.

Jewish Publication Society of America, 1917. Published 1917, before 1929, US public domain. Retrieved and verified 2026-09-17. Source

Out of copyright in the United States on the basis stated here, and free to reuse there. Please keep the citation with it.

Hebrew · Tanach with Nikkud, a digital edition of the Leningrad Codex, 2026Checked against a second encoding

לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד׃

יַעַנְךָ יְהוָה בְּיוֹם צָרָה יְשַׂגֶּבְךָ שֵׁם אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב׃

יִשְׁלַח־עֶזְרְךָ מִקֹּדֶשׁ וּמִצִּיּוֹן יִסְעָדֶךָּ׃

יִזְכֹּר כָּל־מִנְחֹתֶךָ וְעוֹלָתְךָ יְדַשְּׁנֶה סֶלָה׃

יִתֶּן־לְךָ כִלְבָבֶךָ וְכָל־עֲצָתְךָ יְמַלֵּא׃

נְרַנְּנָה בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ וּבְשֵׁם־אֱלֹהֵינוּ נִדְגֹּל יְמַלֵּא יְהוָה כָּל־מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶיךָ׃

עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי הוֹשִׁיעַ יְהוָה מְשִׁיחוֹ יַעֲנֵהוּ מִשְּׁמֵי קָדְשׁוֹ בִּגְבֻרוֹת יֵשַׁע יְמִינוֹ׃

אֵלֶּה בָרֶכֶב וְאֵלֶּה בַסּוּסִים וַאֲנַחְנוּ בְּשֵׁם־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ נַזְכִּיר׃

הֵמָּה כָּרְעוּ וְנָפָלוּ וַאֲנַחְנוּ קַּמְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָד׃

יְהוָה הוֹשִׁיעָה הַמֶּלֶךְ יַעֲנֵנוּ בְיוֹם־קָרְאֵנוּ׃

Sefaria, from the Unicode/XML Leningrad Codex at tanach.us, 2026. Tanach.us states that all biblical Hebrew text on its site may be viewed or copied without restriction, and Sefaria labels this version Public Domain. Retrieved and verified 2026-09-17. Cite as: Psalms 20:1-10, Tanach with Nikkud, a digital edition of the Leningrad Codex, via Sefaria.org. Source

Out of copyright in the United States on the basis stated here, and free to reuse there. Please keep the citation with it.

This prayer’s own page · How this text was verified

Wording and scope vary between editions and between communities, so each edition here is named and this entry makes no claim about which form is right in a given setting. The English keeps the line breaks of one digitisation of the 1917 volume. The second, which it was checked against, stores each verse as running text, so it confirms the words and cannot confirm where a line ends.

Content last changed 6 October 2026. Dates come from this page’s own revision history, not from the last time the site was deployed.

Nothing here has been signed by a reviewer credentialed in this tradition. When that happens, reviewed prayers appear above these, and these stay where they are, as an anthology. How that works.