Yigdal Elohim H̱Ai (Glorify and Praise the Living God)
Detail from a manuscript from the Gross Family Collection.

Yigdal Elohim H̱Ai (Glorify and Praise the Living God)

In this Piyut the author, R. Daniel ben Yehudah, the Judge of Rome, who lived in the 13th century, lists the thirteen Principles of Faith as phrased by Maimonides in his commentary to the Mishnah. The Piyut gained great popularity, was adapted to many different tunes, and incorporated into most traditions. It is genreally sung at the end of the prayer service. Many authors tried to imitate the Piyut and some even wrote parodies. Interestingly enough, R. Yitzchak Luria Askenazi opposed this Piyut, mainly because he disagreed with defining and declaring principles of faith. As a result, those who follow his rulings do not include ‘Yigdal’ in their prayer books.

Listen Here

Yigdal Elohim H̱Ai

Benjo Avraham
India - Cochin
03:25
Daniele Bedarida
Italy - Livorno
03:19
Haim Luk
Morocco
02:53
A Group of Cantors
Turkey
01:45
Yigdal Elohim H̱Ai
Yigdal Elohim H̱Ai
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Lyrics & Transliteration

Lyrics Transliteration
יִגְדַּל אֱלֹהִים חַי וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח נִמְצָא וְאֵין עֵת אֶל מְצִיאוּתוֹ Yigdal Elohim chai v’yishtabach nimtza v’eyn et el m’tziyuto
אֶחָד וְאֵין יָחִיד כְּיִחוּדוֹ נֶעְלָם וְגַם אֵין סוֹף לְאַחְדּוּתוֹ Echad v’-eyn yachid k’-yichudo Ne’elam v’-gam eyn sof l’-achduto
אֵין לוֹ דְמוּת הַגּוּף וְאֵינוֹ גּוּף לֹא נַעֲרֹךְ אֵלָיו קְדֻשָּׁתוֹ Eyn lo d’mut haguf v’-eyno guf lo na’aroch elav k’dushato
קַדְמוֹן לְכָל דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר נִבְרָא רִאשׁוֹן וְאֵין רֵאשִׁית לְרֵאשִׁיתוֹ Kadmon l’chol davar asher niv’ra rishon v’-eyn reshit l’reshito
הִנּוֹ אֲדוֹן עוֹלָם וְכָל נוֹצָר יוֹרֶה גְּדֻלָּתוֹ וּמַלְכוּתוֹ Hino adon olam l’-chol notzar Yoreh g’dulato u’malchuto
שֶׁפַע נְבוּאָתוֹ נְתָנוֹ אֶל אַנְשֵׁי סְגֻלָּתוֹ וְתִפְאַרְתּוֹ Shefa n’vuato n’tano el anshei s’gulato v’-tifarto
לֹא קָם בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כְּמֹשֶׁה עוֹד נָבִיא וּמַבִּיט אֶת תְּמוּנָתוֹ Lo kam b’-yisrael k’moshe od navi u’-mabit et t’munato
תּוֹרַת אֱמֶת נָתַן לְעַמּוֹ אֵל עַל יַד נְבִיאוֹ נֶאֱמַן בֵּיתוֹ Torat emet natan l’-amo El al yad n’vi’o ne’eman beito
לֹא יַחֲלִיף הָאֵל וְלֹא יָמִיר דָּתוֹ לְעוֹלָמִים לְזוּלָתוֹ Lo yachalif ha-El v’-lo yamir dato l’-olamim l’-zulato
צוֹפֶה וְיוֹדֵעַ סְתָרֵינוּ מַבִּיט לְסוֹף דָּבָר בְּקַדְמָתוֹ Tzofeh v’-yodeia s’tareinu Mabit l’-sof davar b’-kadmato
גּוֹמֵל לְאִישׁ חָסִיד כְּמִפְעָלוֹ נוֹתֵן לְרָשָׁע רָע כְּרִשְׁעָתוֹ Gomel l’-ish chesed k’-mif’alo noten la-rasha ra k’-rish’ato
יִשְׁלַח לְקֵץ יָמִים מְשִׁיחֵנוּ לִפְדּוֹת מְחַכֵּי קֵץ יְשׁוּעָתוֹ Yishlach l’ketz yamim m’shicheinu lifdot m’chakey ketz y’shu’ato
מֵתִים יְחַיֶּה אֵל בְּרֹב חַסְדּוֹ בָּרוּךְ עֲדֵי עַד שֵׁם תְּהִלָּתוֹ Metim y’chayeh El b’rov chasdo Baruch adey ad shem t’hilato

 

Translation

Glorify and praise the living God
who exists, but not in time –

singular and unique,
hidden and unbounded,

having no body, not a physical being;
we cannot describe God’s distinctness.

God existed before every thing:
first of all–but with no beginning.

This is the master of the world; all of creation
points to God’s greatness and sovereignty.

Prophetic inspiration was bestowed
upon the people God treasured and honored.

There never arose in Israel another like Moses,
a prophet able to see the very likeness of the Divine.

By the hand of this prophet, trusted in God’s house,
Torah, a truthful teaching, was given to God’s people.

God will never alter the divine law,
Wnor change it for another.

God knows our innermost thoughts,
and foresees their consequence from the start.

God repays the righteous for their deeds;
punishes evildoers in accord with their transgressions.

The Divine will send us our Messiah at the end of days,
redeeming those who wait for the time of God’s triumph.

God, with great mercy, will give life to the dead –
may God’s name be praised forever.

Translation by Siddur Lev Shalem