Chapter 4

Amar rabbi eli'ezer, kol ha'osek beperek shirah ba'olam hazeh zocheh ve'omerah le'olam habba shenne'emar az yashir mosheh – shar lo ne'emar ella yashir la'olam habba.

ve'amar rabbi kol ha'osek beperek shirah ba'olam hazeh ma'id ani alav shehu ben olam habba venitzol miyetzer hara umiddin kasheh umissatan hamashchit umikkal minei mazikin umechevlo shel mashiach umiddinah shel geihinom vezocheh lilmod ulelamed lishmor vela'asot ulekayeim vetalmudo mekayeim beyado uma'arich yamim vezocheh lechayei olam habba.

(yalkut shimoni, sof tehilim) ameru rabboteinu zl al david hamelech h besha'ah shessiyeim sefer tehilim zachah da'atto alav. Amar lifnei hakadosh baruch hu yesh beri'ah shebbarata be'olmcha she'omeret shirot vetishbachot yoter mimeni? be'otah sha'ah nizdamnah lo tzefardea achat ve'amerah lo, david! al tazzuach da'techa aleicha, she'ani omeret shirot vetishbachot yoter mimmeka. Velo od ella kol shirah she'ani omeret memashelet aleiha sheloshet alafim mashal shenne'emar (malachim 1 ch5 v12) vaydabber sheloshet alafim mashal vayhi shiro chamishah va'alef. Velo od ella she'ani oseket bemitzvah gedolah, vezu hi hammitzvah she'ani oseket bah – yesh bisfat hayam min echad she'ein parnasato ki im min hamayim uvesha'ah shehu ra'ev noteleni ve'ocheleni lekayeim mah shene'emar (mishle ch 25 v.21-22) im ra'ev sona'acha ha'achilehu lechem ve'im tzamei hashkehu mayim ki gechalim attah choteh al rosho vaAdo-naï yeshallem lacha al tikrei yeshallem lach ella yashlimehu lach.

Tarnegol omer. Besha'ah shebba hakkadosh baruch hu etzel hatzaddikim began eden, zolefim kol ilanei gan eden bessamim, umerannenim umeshabbechim, ve'az gam hu mit'orer umeshabbeach:

Bekol rishon omer se'u she'arim rasheichem vehinnase'u pitchei olam veyavo melech hakkavod. Mi zeh melech hakkavod Ado-naï izzuz vegibbor Ado-naï gibbor milchamah:

Bekol sheni omer se'u she'arim rasheichem use'u pitchei olam veyavo melech hakkavod . Mi hu zeh melech hakkavod Ado-naï tzeva'ot hu melech hakkavod selah:

Bekol shelishi omer 'imdu tzaddikim ve'isko battorah kedei sheyihyeh secharchem kaful la'olam habba:

Bekol revi'i omer lishu'atecha kivviti Ado-naï:

Bekol chamishi omer 'ad matai atzel tishkav matai takum mishenatecha:

Bekol shishi omer 'al te'ehav shenah pen tivvaresh pekach eineicha seva lachem:

Bekol shevi'i omer 'et la'asot l'Ado-naï heferu toratecha

Tarnegolet omeret. Noten lechem lechol basar ki le'olam chasdo:

Yonah omeret. Kesus agur ken atzaftzef ehgeh kayonah dallu einai lammarom adonai ashekah li areveni:

Omeret yonah lifnei hakkadosh baruch hu, ribbono shel olam, yihyu mezonotai merorim kezayit beyadecha, ve'al yihyu metukim kidvash, al yedei bashar vedam:

Nesher omer. Ve'attah Ado-naï elohim tzeva'ot elohei yisra'el hakitzah lifkod kol haggoyim al tachon kol bogedei aven selah:

Agur omer. Hodu l'Ado-naï bechinnor benevel asor zammeru lo:

Tzippor omer. Gam tzippor matze'ah vayit uderor ken lah asher shatah efrocheiha et mizbechoteicha Ado-naï tzeva'ot malki velohai:

Senunit omeret. Lema'an yezammercha chavod velo yiddom Ado-naï elohai le'olam odeka:

Tassit omeret. Ezri me'im Ado-naï oseh shamayim va'aretz:

Tziyah omeret. Or zarua latzaddik uleyishrei lev simchah:

Retzifi omer. Nachamu nachamu ammi yomar eloheichem:

Chasidah omeret. Dabberu al lev yerushalam vekir'u eleiha ki male'ah tzeva'ah ki nirtzah avonah ki lakechah miyad Ado-naï kiflayim bechol chattoteiha:

Orev omer. Mi yachin la'orev tzeido ki yeladav el el yeshavve'u:

Zarzir omer. Noda baggoyim zar'am vetze'etza'eihem betoch ha'ammim kol ro'eihem yakkirum ki hem zera berach Ado-naï:

Avaz shebbabbayit omeret. Hodu l'Ado-naï kir'u vishmo hodi'u va'ammim alilotav. Shiru lo zammeru lo sichu bechol nifle'otav:

Avaz habbar hammeshotetet bammidbar. Keshero'eh et yisra'el osekim battorah omeret. Kol korei bammidbar, panu derech Ado-naï, yashru ba'aravah mesillah le'eloheinu, ve'al metzi'ut mezonoteiha bammidbar omeret. Arur haggever asher yivtach ba'adam, baruch haggever asher yivtach baAdo-naï vehayah Ado-naï mivtacho:

Ferogiyot omerim. Bitchu vaAdo-naï adei ad ki beyah Ado-naï tzur olamim:

Rachamah omeret. Eshrekah lahem va'akabbetzem ki feditim veravu kemo ravu:

Tzipporet keramim omeret. Essa einai el heharim me'ayin yavo ezri:

Chasil omer. Ado-naï elohai attah aromimcha odeh shimcha ki asita pelei etzot merachok emunah omen:

Semamit omeret. Haleluhu vetziltzelei shama haleluhu betziltzelei teru'ah:

Zevuv omer. Besha'ah she'ein yisra'el osekim battorah, kol omer kera ve'amar mah ekra kol habbasar chatzir vechol chasdo ketzitz hassadeh. Yavesh chatzir navel tzitz ki ruach Ado-naï nashevah bo achen chatzir ha'am. Yavesh chatzir navel tzitz udevar eloheinu yakum le'olam:

Borei niv sefatayim shalom shalom larachok velakkarov amar Ado-naï urefativ:

Tanninim omerim. Halelu et Ado-naï min ha'aretz tanninim vechol tehomot

Livyatan omer. Hodu l'Ado-naï ki tov ki le'olam chasdo:

Dagim omerim. Kol Ado-naï al hammayim el hakkavod hir'im Ado-naï al mayim rabbim:

Tzefardea omeret. Baruch shem kevod malchuto le'olam va'ed:

Rabbi yesha'yah talmido shel rabbi chanina ben dosa hit'annah chamesh ushemonim ta'aniyot. Amar kelavim shekkatuv bahem vehakkelavim azzei nefesh lo yade'u save'ah, yizku lomar shirah. Anah lo mal'ach min hashamayim ve'amar lo yesha'yah ad matai attah mit'anneh al zeh haddavar. Shevu'ah hi millifnei hammakom baruch hu miyom sheggillah sodo lachavakkuk hannavi lo gillah davar zeh leshum beri'ah ba'olam. Ella bishvil shettalmido shel adam gadol attah shelachuni min hashamayim lizdakkek eleicha lehagid lecha bameh zachu hakkelavim lomar shirah. Lefi shekkatuv bahem  ulechol benei yisra'el lo yecheratz kelev leshono. Velo od ella shezachu le'abbed orot mitzo'atam shekkotevim bahem tefillin umezuzot vesifrei torah. Al ken zachu lomar shirah. Ule'inyan hash'elah shesha'alta chazor la'achoreicha ve'al tosif baddavar hazzeh od, kemo shekkatuv shomer piv uleshono shomer mitzarot nafsho. Baruch Ado-naï le'olam amen ve'amen

Ribbon kol ha'olamim, yehi ratzon millefaneicha Ado-naï elohai ve'elohei avotai, shebbizchut perek shirah shekkarati, shehu shirat haddomem hatzomeach vehachai, vehammal'achim hammemunnim aleihem me'et Ado-naï yitbarech, shettehei amirato kehakravat korban al gabbei hammizbeach. Shettehei sha'ah zu she'at rachamim, she'at hakshavah, she'at ha'azanah, venikra'acha ute'anninu, na'tir lecha vehe'ater lanu. Shettihyeh olah lefaneicha amirat perek shirah ke'illu hissagnu kol hassodot hannifla'ot vehannora'ot asher hem chatumim bo bechol tena'av. Hachzirenu bitshuvah shelemah lefaneicha, venizkeh lemakom shehannefashot haruchot vehanshamot nechtzavot misham, uche'illu asinu kol asher mutal aleinu lehassig, bein begilgul zeh bein begilgulim acherim, umallei kol mish'alot libbenu letovah vetishlach berachah hatzlachah veharvachah bechol me'aseh yadeinu , venizkeh leshorer la'atid lavo, vetashiv shechinatecha le'ir kodshecha bimherah beyameinu amen.

Rabbi Eliezer said: Anyone who involves himself with Perek Shirah in this world, merits saying it in the World-to-Come, as it says, “Then Moshe will sing”; it does not say “sang,” but “will sing” in the World-to-Come.

And Rebbi said: Anyone who involves himself with Perek Shirah in this world — I testify that he is destined for the World-to-Come, and he is saved from the evil inclination, and from harsh judgment, and from the destroying Satan, and from all types of enemies, and from the birth pangs of Mashiaḥ, and from the judgment of Gehennom; and he merits to learn and to teach, to observe and to fulfill and to perform [the Torah], and his studies are established in him, and his days are lengthened, and he merits life in the World-to-Come.

The Sages said concerning King David that when he completed the book of Psalms, he became proud. He said before the blessed Holy One, “Is there any creature you have created in your world that says more songs and praises than I?” At that moment a frog happened across his path, and it said to him: “David! Do not become proud, for I recite more songs and praises than you. Furthermore, every song I say contains three thousand parables, as it says, ‘And he spoke three thousand parables, and his songs were one thousand five hundred.' And furthermore, I am busy with a great mitsvah, and this is the mitsvah with which I am busy: there is a certain type of creature by the edge of the sea whose sustenance is entirely from [creatures living in] the water, and when it is hungry, it takes me and eats me, such that I fulfill that which it says, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you shall heap coals of fire on his head, and YHVH shall reward you'; do not read ‘shall reward you’ but instead ‘shall make him complete you.’”

The Rooster is saying, “When the blessed Holy One comes to the righteous in the Garden of Eden, all the trees in the Garden of Eden scatter their spices, and they rejoice and praise, and then He, too, is aroused and praises.”

In its first call it says, “Such is the generation of them that seek after thon, that seek your face, even Ya’akov. Selah! Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O everlasting doors! And the King of kavod shall come in. Who is this King of kavod? YHVH strong and mighty, YHVH mighty in battle!”

In its second call, it says, “Lift up your heads, O gates! Lift them up, O everlasting doors! And the King of kavod shall come in. Who is He, this King of kavod? YHVH Tseva’ot, he is the King of kavod, Selah!”

In its third call it says, “Stand, O righteous ones, and busy yourselves with Torah, so that your reward shall be double in Olam Haba.”

In its fourth call it says, “I have hoped for your salvation, YHVH.”

In its fifth call, it is saying, “How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?”

In its sixth call, it is saying, “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.”

In its seventh call, it is saying, “It is time to act for YHVH; for they have made void your Torah.”

The Hen is saying, “He gives bread to all flesh, for his lovingkindness endures in the cosmos.”

The Dove is saying, “Like a swift or crane, so do I chatter; I moan like a dove; my eyes fail with looking upward; my Master, I am oppressed by my senility.”

The Dove says before the blessed Holy One: “Master of the World! May my sustenance be as bitter as an olive in your Hand, rather than it being sweet as honey through flesh and blood.”

The Vulture is saying, “And you, YHVH Elohim Tseva’ot, elo’ah of Yisra’el, awake to punish all the nations; do not be gracious to any wicked traitors, Selah!”

The Crane is saying, “Give thanks to YHVH with the lyre, make music for him with the ten-stringed harp.”

The Songbird is saying, “The songbird has also found her home, and the sparrow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young – Your altars, YHVH Tseva’ot, my King and my elo’ah.”

The Swallow is saying, “So that my soul shall praise you, and shall not be silent, YHVH my elo’ah, I shall give thanks to you forever.”

The Swift is saying: “My help is from YHVH, Maker of Heaven and earth.”

The Stormy Petrel is saying: “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the straight-hearted.”

The Laughing Dove is saying: “Comfort My people, comfort them, says your elo’ah.”

The Stork is saying: “Speak to the heart of Yerushalayim, and call to her, for her time has arrived, for her sins have been pardoned, for she has taken double from YHVH’s hand for all her sins.”

The Raven is saying, “Who prepares food for the raven, when his young ones cry out to El?”

The Starling is saying, “Their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which YHVH has blessed.”

The Domestic Goose is saying, “Give thanks to YHVH, call upon his Name, make his works known amongst the peoples, sing to Him, make music for Him, speak of all his wonders.”

The Wild Goose flying in the wilderness, when it sees Yisra’el busy with Torah, is saying, “A voice cries, Prepare in the wilderness the way of YHVH, make straight in the desert a path for our elo’ah.”

And upon finding its food in the wilderness, it says, “Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings…”[60] Blessed is the man who trusts in YHVH, and YHVH shall be his assurance.”

The Ducks are saying, “Trust in YHVH forever and ever, for YHVH Yah, is the strength of worlds.”

The Bee-Eater is saying: “I will whistle to them and gather them, for I have redeemed them, and they shall increase as they have before increased.”

The Grasshopper is saying: “I lift my eyes up to the mountains, wherefrom shall my help come?”

The Locust is saying, “YHVH, you are my elo’ah; I will exalt you, I will praise your Name; for you have done wondrous things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”

The Spider is saying, “Praise him with sounding cymbals! Praise him with loud clashing cymbals!”

The Fly, when Yisra’el is not busying itself with Torah, is saying, “The voice said, ‘Call out.’ And he said, ‘What shall I call out?’ ‘All flesh is grass, and all its grace is as the flower of the field.’ ‘…The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our elo’ah shall endure forever.’” ‘“I will create a new expression of the lips; Peace, peace for him who is far off and for him who is near, says YHVH; and I will heal him.’”

The Sea Monsters are saying: “Praise YHVH from the land, the sea monsters and all the depths.”

The Leviathan is saying, “Give thanks to YHVH for he is good, for his lovingkindness endures in the cosmos.”

The Fishes are saying, “The voice of YHVH is upon the waters, the El of kavod thunders, YHVH is upon many waters.”

The Frog is saying, “Blessed is the Name of his resplendent Majesty in the Cosmos forever.”

Rabbi Yeshayah, student of Rabbi Ḥanina ben Dosa, fasted eighty-five fasts. He said, “Dogs, about which it is written, ‘the dogs are brazen of spirit; they do not know satisfaction' - shall they merit saying a song?” An angel answered him from Heaven and said to him, “Yeshayah, until when will you fast over this? It is an oath from the blessed Holy One; from the day that he revealed his secret to Havakuk the prophet, he has not revealed this matter to anyone in the world. But because you are the student of a great man, I have been sent from Heaven to assist you. They said that dogs have written about them, ‘No dog sharpened its tongue against any of the children of Yisra’el'. Furthermore, they merited that hides are tanned with their excrement, on which Tefillin, Mezuzot, and Torah scrolls are written. For this reason they merited saying a song. And regarding what you asked, take back your word and do not continue in this way, as it is written, ‘He that guards his mouth and tongue, guards from afflictions of his soul.’” Blessed is YHVH forever, Amen and Amen.

Master of all the Worlds, may it be Your will, O HaShem, my G-d and the G-d of my forefathers, that in the merit of Perek Shirah that I have recited and in which I involved myself, which is the song of mineral, vegetable, and animal, and the holy angels that are appointed over them by HaShem, Blessed is He, and [which is the song] of the connection of the Divine Presence with all the worlds, and the connection of the lower worlds with the higher worlds, and the recitation of which is like an offering upon the Altar - that this time should be a time of mercy, a time of attentiveness, a time of giving ear, when we call upon You and You answer us, [a time] when we beseech You and You respond to us. May our recitation and involvement in Perek Shira rise up before You as if we have comprehended all the mysteries, wonders, and awesomeness that are sealed within it, in its every manifestation. Bring us back in complete repentance before You, and may we merit [to reach] the place from which the life-forces, spirits, and souls are hewn, as if we had performed everything that we are called upon to comprehend, whether in this transmigration [of the soul] or in other transmigrations. And may we be among those who ascend to and merit the World to Come, among the other righteous and devout people. And may You fulfill all the requests of our heart for good (**at this point one may express one's personal requests**) and may You be with our heart and the utterances of our mouth at the times of our thoughts, and with our hands at the times when we act. And may You send blessing and success and relief in all our handiwork. May You let us stand up from amid our suffering and may You raise us up from the trash heaps of poverty. Through the strength of this song may all the powerful [judgments] be sweetened and may blessing be spread out in all the worlds. May we merit to sing in the Time to Come and may You return the Divine Presence to Your Holy City speedily, in our days, Amen.

This prayer was composed by HaGaon Rabbi Mordechai Gross, shlita, Raavad of Merkaz Beni Brak.