This traditional prayer of Judaism appears to have been around since before the time of Yeshua.(1) Nevertheless, in its modern form, every paragraph of this prayer contains value and insight to help guide our own prayer.

May the Holy One hear our cry.

My L-rd, open my lips, that my mouth may declare your praise.

Blessed are you, HaShem our God, and God of our forefathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob; the great, mighty, and awesome God, the supreme God, Who bestows beneficial kindnesses and creates everything, Who recalls the kindnesses of the patriarchs and brings a redeemer to their children's children, for His Names's sake, with love.

You are eternally mighty, my Lord, the Resuscitator of the dead are You; abundantly able to save. He sustains the living with kindness, resuscitates the dead with abundant mercy, supports the fallen, heals the sick, releases the confined, and maintains His faith to those asleep in the dust. Who is like You, O Master of mighty deeds, and who is comparable to You, O King Who causes death and restores life and makes salvation sprout! And You are faithful to resuscitate the dead. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who resuscitates the dead.

You are holy, and Your Name is holy, and holy ones praise You every day, forever. Blessed are You, HaShem, the holy God.

You graciously endow man with wisdom and teach insights to a frail mortal. Endow us graciously from Yourself with wisdom, insight, and discernment. Blessed are You, HaShem, gracious Giver of wisdom.

Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah, and being us near, our King, to Your service, and influence us to return in perfect repentance before You. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who desires repentance.

Forgive us, our Father, for we have erred; pardon us, our King, for we have willfully sinned; for You pardon and forgive. Blessed are You, HaShem, the gracious One Who pardons abundantly.

Behold our affliction, take up our grievances, and redeem us speedily for Your Name's sake, for You are a powerful Redeemer. Blessed are You, HaShem, Redeemer of Israel.

Heal us, HaShem--then we shall be healed; save us--then we will be saved, for You are our praise. Bring complete recovery for all our ailments, for You are God, King, the faithful and compassionate Healer. Blessed are You , HaShem, Who heals the sick of His people Israel.

Bless on our behalf--O HaShem our God--this year and all its kinds of crops for the best, and give a blessing on the face of the earth, and satisfy us from Your bounty, and bless our year like the best years. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who blesses the years.

Sound the great shofar for our freedom, raise the banner to gather our exiles and gather us together from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who gathers the dispersed of His people Israel.

Restore our judges as in earliest times and our counselors as at first; remove from us sorrow and groan; and reign over us--You, HaShem, alone--with kindness and compassion, and justify us through judgment. Blessed are You, HaShem, the King Who loves righteousness and judgment.

And for slanderers let there be no hope; and may all wickedness perish in an instant; and may all You enemies by cut down speedily. May you speedily uproot, smash, cast down, and humble the wanton sinners--speedily in our days. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who breaks enemies and humbles wanton sinners.

On the righteous, on the devout, on the elders of You people the Family of Israel, in the remnant of their scholars, on the righteous converts and on ourselves--may Your compassion be aroused. HaShem out God, and give goodly reward to all who sincerely believe in Your Name. Put our lot with them forever, and we will not feel ashamed, for we trust in You. Blessed are You, HaShem, Mainstay and Assurance of the righteous.

And to Jerusalem, Your city, may You return in compassion, and may you rest within it, as You have spoken. May You rebuild it soon in our days as an eternal structure, and may You speedily establish the throne of David within it. Blessed are You, HaShem, the Builder of Jerusalem.

The offspring of Your servant David my You speedily cause to flourish, and enhance his pride through Your salvation, for we hope for Your salvation all day long. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who causes the pride of salvation to flourish.

Hear our voice, HaShem our God, and be compassionate to us, and accept--with compassion and favor--our prayer, for God Who hears prayers and supplications are You. From before Yourself, our King, turn us not away empty-handed, for You hear the prayer of Your people Israel with compassion. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who hears prayer.

Be favorable, HaShem, our God, toward Your people Israel and their prayer and restore the service to the Holy of Holies of Your Temple. The fire-offerings of Israel and their prayer accept with love and favor, and may the service of Your people Israel always be favorable to You. May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in compassion. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who restores His Presence to Zion.

We gratefully thank You, for it is You Who are HaShem, our God and the God of our forefathers for all eternity. Rock of our lives, Shield of our salvation are You from generation to generation. We shall think You and relate Your praise--for our lives which are committed to Your power and for our souls that are entrusted to You; for Your miracles that are with us every day; and for Your wonders and favors in every season--evening, morning, and afternoon. The Beneficent One, for Your compassions were never exhausted, the the Compassionate One, for Your kindnesses never ended--always he we put our hope in You. For all these, may Your Name be blessed and exalted, our King, continually forever and ever.

Everything alive will gratefully acknowledge You, Selah! and praise Your Name sincerely, O God of our salvation and help, Selah! Blessed are You, HaShem, Your Name is "The Beneficent One" and to You it is fitting to give thanks.

Establish peace, goodness, blessing, graciousness, kindness, and compassion upon us and upon all of Your people Israel. Bless us, our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your countenance, for with the light of Your countenance You gave us, HaShem, our God, the Torah of life and a love of kindness, righteousness, blessing, compassion, life, and peace. And may it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel in every season and in every hour with Your peace. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who blesses His people Israel with peace.

My God, guard my tongue from evil, and my lips from speaking deceitfully. To those who curse me, let my soul be silent; and let my soul be like the dust to everyone. Open my heart to Your Torah, then my soul will pursue Your commandments. As for all those who design evil against me, speedily nullify their counsel and disrupt their design. Act for Your Name's sake; act for Your right hand's sake; act for Your sanctity's sake; act for Your Torah's sake. That Your beloved ones may be given rest; let Your right hand save, and respond to me.

May the expressions of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart find favor before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.

He Who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace upon us, and upon all Israel. Now respond: Amen.

May it be Your will, HaShem our God and God of our forefathers, that the Holy Temple be rebuilt, speedily in our days. Grant us our share in Your Torah, and may we serve You there with reverence, as in days of old and in former years. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to HaShem as in days of old and in former years.

Footnotes:

1. It is contained in the Talmud, in Tractate Berachot. We also find there that paragraph twelve was written around the turn of the first century by Shmuel Hakatan.