005 - BENTCHING FOR PURIM ֹ ברכת המזון לפורים

A Song of Ascents. When the L‑rd brings back the returnees to Zion, we will have been like dreamers. Then our mouth will be filled with laughter and our tongue with songs of joy; then will they say among the nations, "The L‑rd has done great things for these." The L‑rd has done great things for us; we were joyful. L‑rd, bring back our exiles like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed; he will surely come back with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves.

By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song, whose foundation is in the holy mountains. The L‑rd loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Yaakov. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of G‑d, Selah. I will mention Rahav and Babylon to those who know me; behold Philistia and Tyre with Kush — "this one was born there." And of Zion it will be said, "This man and that man were born in her," and the Most High Himself will establish her. The L‑rd will count in the register of the peoples, "This one was born there," Selah. Singers as well as dancers: all my springs are in you.

I will bless the L‑rd at all times; His praise is always in my mouth. The conclusion of the matter, after all has been heard: Fear G‑d and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man. My mouth will utter the praise of the L‑rd, and let all flesh bless His holy Name forever and ever. And we will bless the L‑rd from now to eternity. Praise the L‑rd.

This is the portion of a wicked man from G‑d, and the heritage appointed to him by G‑d.

And he said to me: This is the table that is before the L‑rd.

The leader says in Hebrew or Yiddish: “Give us [the cup] and let us bless.” (“Gentlemen, let us say Grace.”)

Others respond: May the Name of the L‑rd be blessed from now and to all eternity.

The leader says: May the Name of the L‑rd be blessed from now and to all eternity.

With the permission of my masters, teachers and gentlemen, let us bless (our G‑d — with ten) Him of whose bounty we have eaten:

Others respond: Blessed be (our G‑d, when ten are present) He of whose bounty we have eaten and by whose goodness we live.

The leader says: Blessed be (our G‑d, when ten are present) He of whose bounty we have eaten and by whose goodness we live.

Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who, in His goodness, feeds the whole world with grace, with kindness and with mercy. He gives food to all flesh, for His kindness is everlasting. Through His great goodness to us continuously we have not lacked food, and may we never lack food, for the sake of His great Name. For He is a G‑d who feeds and sustains all, does good to all, and prepares food for all His creatures whom He has created, as it is said: You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed are You, L‑rd, who provides food for all.

We offer thanks to You, L‑rd our G‑d, for having given as a heritage to our fathers a precious, good and spacious land; for having brought us out, L‑rd our G‑d, from the land of Egypt and redeemed us from the house of bondage; for Your covenant which You have sealed in our flesh; for Your Torah which You have taught us; for Your statutes which You have made known to us; for the life, favor and kindness which You have graciously bestowed upon us; and for the food we eat with which You constantly feed and sustain us every day, at all times, and at every hour.

And for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the saving acts and for the wonders which You performed for our fathers in those days, at this time.

In the days of Mordechai and Esther, in Shushan the capital, when the wicked Haman rose up against them, he sought to destroy, slay and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, children and women, in one day — on the thirteenth of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar — and to take their spoil as plunder. But You, in Your abundant mercy, foiled his counsel and frustrated his intention, and brought his recompense upon his own head; and they hanged him and his sons upon the gallows.

Have mercy, L‑rd our G‑d, upon Israel Your people, upon Jerusalem Your city, upon Zion the abode of Your glory, upon the kingship of the house of David Your anointed, and upon the great and holy House that is called by Your Name. Our G‑d, our Father, tend us, nourish us, sustain us and provide for us, and grant us relief, and relieve us speedily, L‑rd our G‑d, from all our troubles. Please, L‑rd our G‑d, do not make us dependent on the gifts of flesh and blood nor on their loans, but only on Your hand, which is full, open, holy and generous, so that we may never be shamed or disgraced.

And rebuild Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed are You, L‑rd, who in His mercy rebuilds Jerusalem. Amen.

And rebuild Jerusalem the holy city speedily in our days. Blessed are You, L‑rd, who in His mercy rebuilds Jerusalem. Amen.

Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, benevolent G‑d, our Father, our King, our Strength, our Creator, our Redeemer, our Maker, our Holy One, the Holy One of Jacob, our Shepherd, the Shepherd of Israel, the King who is good and does good to all, each and every day. He has done good for us, He does good for us, and He will do good for us; He has bestowed, He bestows, and He will forever bestow upon us grace, kindness and mercy, relief, salvation and success, blessing and deliverance, consolation, livelihood and sustenance, compassion, life, peace and all goodness; and may He never cause us to lack any good.

May the Merciful One reign over us forever and ever.

May the Merciful One be blessed in heaven and on earth.

May the Merciful One be praised for all generations, and be glorified through us forever and to all eternity, and honored through us forever and ever.

May the Merciful One grant us an honorable livelihood.

May the Merciful One break the yoke of exile from our neck and may He lead us upright to our land.

May the Merciful One send abundant blessing into this house and upon this table at which we have eaten.

May the Merciful One send us Elijah the Prophet, who is remembered for good, and let him bring us good tidings, salvation and consolation.

May the Merciful One bless our master, our teacher and our Rebbe.

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; us and all that is ours — just as our fathers Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov were blessed in all things, by all things, with all things, so may He bless all of us together with a perfect blessing, and let us say, Amen.

From on high, may there be invoked upon him and upon us such merit as will bring a safeguarding of peace. May we receive blessing from the L‑rd and kindness from G‑d our deliverer, and may we find grace and good understanding in the eyes of G‑d and man.

May the Merciful One make us worthy of the days of Moshiach and the life of the World to Come. He gives great salvation to His king and shows kindness to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever. He who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace for us and for all Israel, and say, Amen. Fear the L‑rd, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him suffer no want. Young lions may feel want and hunger, but those who seek the L‑rd will not lack any good. Give thanks to the L‑rd, for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed is the man who trusts in the L‑rd, and the L‑rd will be his security.