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Election 2026

The results of the 27 October vote

Adon Olam in Hebrew and English

Ten lines in five couplets, the wording of Ashkenaz prayer books, with the meaning of each line under it.

The text of the prayer

The English under each line is Israel.com's own plain-English meaning, not a printed translation.

אֲדוֹן עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר מָלַךְ, בְּטֶרֶם כָּל יְצִיר נִבְרָא:

Master of the world, who reigned before anything was created.

לְעֵת נַעֲשָׂה בְחֶפְצוֹ כֹּל, אֲזַי מֶלֶךְ שְׁמוֹ נִקְרָא:

When everything was made as He wished, then His name was called King.

וְאַחֲרֵי כִּכְלוֹת הַכֹּל, לְבַדּוֹ יִמְלֹךְ נוֹרָא:

And when all has ended, He alone will reign, awe-inspiring.

וְהוּא הָיָה וְהוּא הֹוֶה, וְהוּא יִהְיֶה בְּתִפְאָרָה:

He was, He is, and He will be, in glory.

וְהוּא אֶחָד וְאֵין שֵׁנִי, לְהַמְשִׁיל לוֹ לְהַחְבִּירָה:

He is one, and there is no second to compare to Him or to join Him.

בְּלִי רֵאשִׁית בְּלִי תַכְלִית, וְלוֹ הָעֹז וְהַמִּשְׂרָה:

Without beginning, without end; strength and rule are His.

וְהוּא אֵלִי וְחַי גּוֹאֲלִי, וְצוּר חֶבְלִי בְּעֵת צָרָה:

He is my God, my living redeemer, the rock of my lot in time of trouble.

וְהוּא נִסִּי וּמָנוֹס לִי, מְנָת כּוֹסִי בְּיוֹם אֶקְרָא:

He is my banner and my refuge, the portion of my cup on the day I call.

בְּיָדוֹ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי, בְּעֵת אִישַׁן וְאָעִירָה:

Into His hand I place my spirit, when I sleep and when I wake.

וְעִם רוּחִי גְּוִיָּתִי, יְהֹוָה לִי וְלֹא אִירָא:

And with my spirit, my body. God is with me, and I will not be afraid.

Sources read on 2 November 2026

When and how this prayer is said

  • Customarily sung at the close of Shabbat and festival services, and printed at the start of the morning prayers in many siddurim.
  • 72 words, about 1 minute to read

More prayers and texts

Prayers by the time they are said·All 150 psalms and today's reading

Questions about this prayer

When is Adon Olam said?

Customarily it is sung at the close of Shabbat and festival services, and in many siddurim it is also printed at the start of the morning prayers.

Who wrote Adon Olam?

The poet is not known for certain. It is often attributed to Solomon ibn Gabirol, who lived in Spain in the 11th century.

How is Adon Olam built?

The Ashkenaz wording on this page has ten lines in five couplets, each line with the same rhythm, which is why it is sung to so many tunes. Some Sephardi prayer books have more lines.

How long does Adon Olam take?

About 1 minute at a steady pace, 72 words.