Adon Olam

Adon Olam (Hebrew אֲדוֹן עוֹלָם, Lord of the World ) are the initial words of a hymn, which eternity and unity of God and the human trust in his providence expresses. The Ashkenazi version has 12 verses, the Sephardic version 16 verses. The author of the hymn is unknown. The Solomon ibn Gabirol 's authorship has been attributed, but the text is probably much older and could go back to the times of the Babylonian Geonim. The song appears in the 14th century in the German rite and has spread over time in almost all communities and rites. It was initially at the beginning of Shacharit worship, but is often sung at the end of the Sabbath worship and sometimes at the end of Kol Nidre. The song has become popular worldwide and has been widely translated, among others, by Israel Zangwill into English. In Morocco, it is sung as a wedding song, but also by the relatives of a deceased person on his deathbed.

Adon Olam is mostly sung by the whole community; in the Ashkenazi tradition, but it is sometimes put forward as a soloist from Kantor on special festive occasions. The Italian Baroque composer Salomone Rossi published in 1623 an eight-part, for double Adon Olam setting of.

Transcription and translation

Adon Olam ( Master of the World ) asher ( which ) malach ( ruled ) bterem kol ( everything before ) jizir NIVRA ( was created ). Le'et n'asah ( as by his will ) bechefzo kol ( everything was ), asai ( then ) melech (king) Schemo (his name ) nikra ( was called ).

Ve ( and ) Acharei ( after ) kichlot ( will stop ) ha kol ( the universe ), levado jimloch nora ( He will reign alone). Ve hu haya ( And he was ) ve hu Hoveh ( and He is ), ve hu jijeh ( and He will ) betifarah ( in glory ).

Ve hu echad ( And He's only ) ve'ein Sheni ( and no one else is ) lehamschil lo ( compare him) lehachbirah ( beget ). Beli Reshit ( without beginning ) beli tachlis ( without end), ve lo ha os ( and it is the power ) ve hamisrah ( and the government ).

Ve hu eli ( And He is my God ) ve chai ( and lives ) Goali (my Savior ) ve to ( and the rock ) Chevli ( my part) be et zarah (at the time of need ). Ve hu ( And He ) nisi umanos li ( I protection and refuge ) menat ( giving ) kosi ( the cup ) bejom ( on the day ) ekra ( I call ).

Bejado (in his hand ) afkid (I recommend ) ruchi ( my mind ), be et Ishan ( then when I'm asleep ) ve'airah ( and awake ). Ve in ruchi ( and my mind) geviati ( my body ), Adonai ( the Lord ) li ( for me ) ve ( and ) lo (not ) ira ( I fear ).