Spiritual 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.

Psalm 100 (JPS 1917)

A Psalm of thanksgiving, five verses long. It is part of the weekday morning service, where it recalls the thanksgiving offering.

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

A Psalm of thanksgiving.

Shout unto the LORD, all the earth.

Serve the LORD with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD He is God;

It is He that hath made us, and we are His,

His people, and the flock of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise;

Give thanks unto Him, and bless His name.

For the LORD is good; His mercy endureth for ever;

And His faithfulness unto all generations.

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

מִזְמוֹר לְתוֹדָה הָרִיעוּ לַיהוָה כָּל־הָאָרֶץ׃

עִבְדוּ אֶת־יְהוָה בְּשִׂמְחָה בֹּאוּ לְפָנָיו בִּרְנָנָה׃

דְּעוּ כִּי־יְהוָה הוּא אֱלֹהִים הוּא־עָשָׂנוּ ולא [וְלוֹ] אֲנַחְנוּ עַמּוֹ וְצֹאן מַרְעִיתוֹ׃

בֹּאוּ שְׁעָרָיו בְּתוֹדָה חֲצֵרֹתָיו בִּתְהִלָּה הוֹדוּ־לוֹ בָּרֲכוּ שְׁמוֹ׃

כִּי־טוֹב יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ וְעַד־דֹּר וָדֹר אֱמוּנָתוֹ׃

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 100:1-5, 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 103 (JPS 1917)

Bless the LORD, O my soul: a psalm of thanks for forgiveness and healing, which sets human frailty, days like grass, against a mercy that does not end.

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

[A Psalm] of David.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits;

Who forgiveth all thine iniquity;

Who healeth all Thy diseases;

Who redeemeth Thy life from the pit;

Who encompasseth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth thine old age with good things;

So that Thy youth is renewed like the eagle.

The LORD executeth righteousness,

And acts of justice for all that are oppressed.

He made known His ways unto Moses,

His doings unto the children of Israel.

The LORD is full of compassion and gracious,

Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He will not always contend;

Neither will He keep His anger for ever.

He hath not dealt with us after our sins,

Nor requited us according to our iniquities.

For as the heaven is high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.

As far as the east is from the west,

So far hath He removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father hath compassion upon his children,

So hath the LORD compassion upon them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame;

He remembereth that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone;

And the place thereof knoweth it no more.

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him,

And His righteousness unto children's children;

To such as keep His covenant,

And to those that remember His precepts to do them.

The LORD hath established His throne in the heavens;

And His kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the LORD, ye angels of His,

Ye mighty in strength, that fulfil His word,

Hearkening unto the voice of His word.

Bless the LORD, all ye His hosts;

Ye ministers of His, that do His pleasure.

Bless the LORD, all ye His works,

In all places of His dominion;

Bless the LORD, O my soul.

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

לְדָוִד בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָה וְכָל־קְרָבַי אֶת־שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ׃

בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָה וְאַל־תִּשְׁכְּחִי כָּל־גְּמוּלָיו׃

הַסֹּלֵחַ לְכָל־עֲוֺנֵכִי הָרֹפֵא לְכָל־תַּחֲלֻאָיְכִי׃

הַגּוֹאֵל מִשַּׁחַת חַיָּיְכִי הַמְעַטְּרֵכִי חֶסֶד וְרַחֲמִים׃

הַמַּשְׂבִּיַע בַּטּוֹב עֶדְיֵךְ תִּתְחַדֵּשׁ כַּנֶּשֶׁר נְעוּרָיְכִי׃

עֹשֵׂה צְדָקוֹת יְהוָה וּמִשְׁפָּטִים לְכָל־עֲשׁוּקִים׃

יוֹדִיעַ דְּרָכָיו לְמֹשֶׁה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲלִילוֹתָיו׃

רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן יְהוָה אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב־חָסֶד׃

לֹא־לָנֶצַח יָרִיב וְלֹא לְעוֹלָם יִטּוֹר׃

לֹא כַחֲטָאֵינוּ עָשָׂה לָנוּ וְלֹא כַעֲוֺנֹתֵינוּ גָּמַל עָלֵינוּ׃

כִּי כִגְבֹהַּ שָׁמַיִם עַל־הָאָרֶץ גָּבַר חַסְדּוֹ עַל־יְרֵאָיו׃

כִּרְחֹק מִזְרָח מִמַּעֲרָב הִרְחִיק מִמֶּנּוּ אֶת־פְּשָׁעֵינוּ׃

כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל־בָּנִים רִחַם יְהוָה עַל־יְרֵאָיו׃

כִּי־הוּא יָדַע יִצְרֵנוּ זָכוּר כִּי־עָפָר אֲנָחְנוּ׃

אֱנוֹשׁ כֶּחָצִיר יָמָיו כְּצִיץ הַשָּׂדֶה כֵּן יָצִיץ׃

כִּי רוּחַ עָבְרָה־בּוֹ וְאֵינֶנּוּ וְלֹא־יַכִּירֶנּוּ עוֹד מְקוֹמוֹ׃

וְחֶסֶד יְהוָה מֵעוֹלָם וְעַד־עוֹלָם עַל־יְרֵאָיו וְצִדְקָתוֹ לִבְנֵי בָנִים׃

לְשֹׁמְרֵי בְרִיתוֹ וּלְזֹכְרֵי פִקֻּדָיו לַעֲשׂוֹתָם׃

יְהוָה בַּשָּׁמַיִם הֵכִין כִּסְאוֹ וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בַּכֹּל מָשָׁלָה׃

בָּרֲכוּ יְהוָה מַלְאָכָיו גִּבֹּרֵי כֹחַ עֹשֵׂי דְבָרוֹ לִשְׁמֹעַ בְּקוֹל דְּבָרוֹ׃

בָּרֲכוּ יְהוָה כָּל־צְבָאָיו מְשָׁרְתָיו עֹשֵׂי רְצוֹנוֹ׃

בָּרֲכוּ יְהוָה כָּל־מַעֲשָׂיו בְּכָל־מְקֹמוֹת מֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ בָּרֲכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָה׃

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 103:1-22, 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 121 (JPS 1917)

One of the Songs of Ascents, a short psalm of protection for one setting out or in danger. Used in Jewish practice at times of travel, illness and childbirth, and included in some funeral and memorial orders. Often paired with Psalm 130 in visits to the sick.

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

I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains:

From whence shall my help come?

My help cometh from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved;

He that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, He that keepeth Israel

Doth neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is thy keeper;

The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall keep thee from all evil;

He shall keep thy soul.

The LORD shall guard thy going out and thy coming in,

From this time forth and for ever.

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

שִׁיר לַמַּעֲלוֹת אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶזְרִי׃

עֶזְרִי מֵעִם יְהוָה עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ׃

אַל־יִתֵּן לַמּוֹט רַגְלֶךָ אַל־יָנוּם שֹׁמְרֶךָ׃

הִנֵּה לֹא־יָנוּם וְלֹא יִישָׁן שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

יְהוָה שֹׁמְרֶךָ יְהוָה צִלְּךָ עַל־יַד יְמִינֶךָ׃

יוֹמָם הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לֹא־יַכֶּכָּה וְיָרֵחַ בַּלָּיְלָה׃

יְהוָה יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל־רָע יִשְׁמֹר אֶת־נַפְשֶׁךָ׃

יְהוָה יִשְׁמָר־צֵאתְךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם׃

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: Psalms 121:1-8, 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 two columns do not cover quite the same span: the Hebrew opens with the psalm's superscription, “A Song of Ascents”, which the English published here does not carry, because the two transcription passes over the JPS volume agreed only from the first verse proper.

Psalm 126 (JPS 1917)

A Song of Ascents about return and about sowing in tears and reaping in joy. It is sung before the Grace after Meals on Sabbaths and festivals.

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

A Song of Ascents.

When the LORD brought back those that returned to Zion,

We were like unto them that dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

And our tongue with singing;

Then said they among the nations:

'The LORD hath done great things with these.'

The LORD hath done great things with us;

We are rejoiced.

Turn our captivity, O LORD,

As the streams in the dry land.

They that sow in tears

Shall reap in joy.

Though he goeth on his way weeping that beareth the measure of seed,

He shall come home with joy, bearing his sheaves.

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 בְּשׁוּב יְהוָה אֶת־שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן הָיִינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים׃

אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּינוּ וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה אָז יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם הִגְדִּיל יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עִם־אֵלֶּה׃

הִגְדִּיל יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּנוּ הָיִינוּ שְׂמֵחִים׃

שׁוּבָה יְהוָה אֶת־שבותנו [שְׁבִיתֵנוּ] כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּגֶב׃

הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ׃

הָלוֹךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכֹה נֹשֵׂא מֶשֶׁךְ־הַזָּרַע בֹּא־יָבוֹא בְרִנָּה נֹשֵׂא אֲלֻמֹּתָיו׃

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 126:1-6, 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 150 (JPS 1917)

The last psalm, a call for everything that has breath to praise. It closes the psalms of praise in the daily morning service.

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

Hallelujah.

Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Praise Him for His mighty acts;

Praise Him according to His abundant greatness.

Praise Him with the blast of the horn;

Praise Him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and the pipe.

Praise Him with the loud-sounding cymbals;

Praise Him with the clanging cymbals.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.

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־אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ הַלְלוּהוּ בִּרְקִיעַ עֻזּוֹ׃

הַלְלוּהוּ בִגְבוּרֹתָיו הַלְלוּהוּ כְּרֹב גֻּדְלוֹ׃

הַלְלוּהוּ בְּתֵקַע שׁוֹפָר הַלְלוּהוּ בְּנֵבֶל וְכִנּוֹר׃

הַלְלוּהוּ בְתֹף וּמָחוֹל הַלְלוּהוּ בְּמִנִּים וְעוּגָב׃

הַלְלוּהוּ בְצִלְצְלֵי־שָׁמַע הַלְלוּהוּ בְּצִלְצְלֵי תְרוּעָה׃

כֹּל הַנְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ 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 150:1-6, 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 27 (JPS 1917)

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? It is said twice a day from the start of the month of Elul through the autumn festivals, the season of repentance.

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

[A Psalm] of David.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh,

Even mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.

Though a host should encamp against me,

My heart shall not fear;

Though war should rise up against me,

Even then will I be confident.

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after:

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,

To behold the graciousness of the LORD, and to visit early in His temple.

For He concealeth me in His pavilion in the day of evil;

He hideth me in the covert of His tent;

He lifteth me up upon a rock.

And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me;

And I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices with trumpet-sound;

I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I call with my voice,

And be gracious unto me, and answer me.

In Thy behalf my heart hath said: 'Seek ye My face';

Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Hide not Thy face far from me;

Put not Thy servant away in anger;

Thou hast been my help;

Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

For though my father and my mother have forsaken me,

The LORD will take me up.

Teach me Thy way, O LORD;

And lead me in an even path,

Because of them that lie in wait for me.

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries;

For false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out violence.

If I had not believed to look upon the goodness of the LORD

In the land of the living!—

Wait on the LORD;

Be strong, and let thy heart take courage;

Yea, wait thou for the LORD.

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

לְדָוִד יְהוָה אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי מִמִּי אִירָא יְהוָה מָעוֹז־חַיַּי מִמִּי אֶפְחָד׃

בִּקְרֹב עָלַי מְרֵעִים לֶאֱכֹל אֶת־בְּשָׂרִי צָרַי וְאֹיְבַי לִי הֵמָּה כָשְׁלוּ וְנָפָלוּ׃

אִם־תַּחֲנֶה עָלַי מַחֲנֶה לֹא־יִירָא לִבִּי אִם־תָּקוּם עָלַי מִלְחָמָה בְּזֹאת אֲנִי בוֹטֵחַ׃

אַחַת שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת־יְהוָה אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית־יְהוָה כָּל־יְמֵי חַיַּי לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם־יְהוָה וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ׃

כִּי יִצְפְּנֵנִי בְּסֻכֹּה בְּיוֹם רָעָה יַסְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵתֶר אָהֳלוֹ בְּצוּר יְרוֹמְמֵנִי׃

וְעַתָּה יָרוּם רֹאשִׁי עַל אֹיְבַי סְבִיבוֹתַי וְאֶזְבְּחָה בְאָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵי תְרוּעָה אָשִׁירָה וַאֲזַמְּרָה לַיהוָה׃

שְׁמַע־יְהוָה קוֹלִי אֶקְרָא וְחָנֵּנִי וַעֲנֵנִי׃

לְךָ אָמַר לִבִּי בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָי אֶת־פָּנֶיךָ יְהוָה אֲבַקֵּשׁ׃

אַל־תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי אַל־תַּט־בְּאַף עַבְדֶּךָ עֶזְרָתִי הָיִיתָ אַל־תִּטְּשֵׁנִי וְאַל־תַּעַזְבֵנִי אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי׃

כִּי־אָבִי וְאִמִּי עֲזָבוּנִי וַיהוָה יַאַסְפֵנִי׃

הוֹרֵנִי יְהוָה דַּרְכֶּךָ וּנְחֵנִי בְּאֹרַח מִישׁוֹר לְמַעַן שׁוֹרְרָי׃

אַל־תִּתְּנֵנִי בְּנֶפֶשׁ צָרָי כִּי קָמוּ־בִי עֵדֵי־שֶׁקֶר וִיפֵחַ חָמָס׃

לוּלֵא הֶאֱמַנְתִּי לִרְאוֹת בְּטוּב־יְהוָה בְּאֶרֶץ חַיִּים׃

קַוֵּה אֶל־יְהוָה חֲזַק וְיַאֲמֵץ לִבֶּךָ וְקַוֵּה אֶל־יְהוָה׃

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 27:1-14, 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.

The Shema, first paragraph

The Shema, first paragraph: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, in Hebrew and in English, each as it appears in the edition cited under it.

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

HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;

and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes.

And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.

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

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד׃

וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶךָ׃

וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל־לְבָבֶךָ׃

וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ׃

וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת עַל־יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ׃

וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל־מְזוּזֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ׃

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 2026-09-01. Cite as: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 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. This is the biblical paragraph, not the Shema as a siddur prints it for prayer: the liturgy runs to three paragraphs, inserts a line after the first verse that is not part of the biblical text, and prints the enlarged ayin and dalet of verse 4 that are shown here at ordinary size.

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.