בָּרוּךְ שֶׁאָמַר | Barukh shèAmar, alphabetic acrostic piyyut from the Old Persian rite attested in JTS MS 4522

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13 August 2026 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

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Barukh shèAmar, Psuqei d'Zimrah/Zemirot l'Shabbat ul'Yom Tov

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acrostic, Alphabetic Acrostic, ברוך שאמר barukh she'amar, Geonic prayers, Needing Vocalization, Nusaḥ Farsi, פיוטים piyyuṭim

Barukh shèAmar for Shabbat and festivals, in the Old Persian rite, as recorded in JTS MS 4522 (formerly shelfmark JTS MS Adler 23 ENA). The Old Persian rite shows some fascinating unique linguistic features. The first thing that immediately strikes one is its tendency towards poetic extensions and doublings, even in texts (such as the Avot blessing) where most other rites are almost completely uniform. It also shows some nonstandard vocalizations that appear to be influenced by the Babylonian system of vocalization. In modern Persian communities the standard rite is a variation of the Sephardic rite used throught the Mizraḥi world, but this older rite with its unique facets deserves to be preserved as well. This Barukh shèAmar is an intricate rhyming acrostic chock full of Biblical references.

Source (Hebrew)	Translation (English)
בָּרוּךְ שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם בָּרוּךְ הוּא׃	Blessed be the One who spoke and existence was! Blessed be They!
בָּרוּךְ אוֹמֵר וְעֹשֶׂה בָּרוּךְ רְצוֹן־יְרֵאָ֥יו יַעֲשֶׂ֑ה׃ (תהלים קמה:יט)	Blessed be the Speaker and Doer! Blessed be the One who will do the will of those who revere Them! (Psalms 145:19)
בָּרוּךְ בּוֹרֵא בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרוּךְ מַגִּיד אַחֲרִית מֵרֵאשִׁית׃	Blessed be the Creator of creation! Blessed be the Foreteller of the end from the start!^[1] Find Isaiah 46:10
בָּרוּךְ גּוֹזֵר וּמְקַיֵּם נוֹרָא וְאָיֹם בָּ֤ר֣וּךְ אֲדֹנָי֮ י֤וֹם ׀ י֥֫וֹם׃ (תהלים סח:כ)	Blessed be the Decreer and Fulfiller, awesome and fearsome! Blessed be the Master, day by day! (Psalms 68:20)
בָּרוּךְ דָּג֖וּל מֵרְבָבָֽה (שיר השירים ה:ח) בָּרוּךְ אֵל נַעֲרָץ וְנִקְדָשׁ בְּסוֹד קְדֹשִׁים רַבָּה׃	Blessed be the Bannered of Myriads! (Song of Songs 5:8) Blessed be the Deity, ennobled and sanctified in the counsel of the many holy!^[2] Find Psalms 89:8
בָּרוּךְ הַמְּהֻלָּל בְּפִי כׇּל־נֶֽפֶשׁ בָּרוּךְ וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י שָׁבַ֖ת וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ׃ (שמות לא:יז)	Blessed be the Praised in the mouth of all breath! Blessed be the One who on the seventh day rested and was refreshed! (Exodus 31:17)
בָּרוּךְ וְאֵין עוֹד מִלְּבַדּוֹ בָּרוּךְ וְאֶל־עֲבָדָיו הַנְּבִיאִים גָּלָה סוֹדוֹ׃	Blessed be They, and there is no other but Them!^[3] Find Deuteronomy 4:35 Blessed be They who revealed Their secret to Their servants the prophets!^[4] Find Amos 3:7
בָּרוּךְ זַן וּמְפַרְנֵס לַכֹּל בָּרוּךְ זִכְרוֹ וּשְׁבָחוֹ תָּמִיד בְּפִי כֹּל׃	Blessed be the Feeder and Provider of all! Blessed be They whose moniker and praise is always in the mouth of all!
בָּרוּךְ חַי לָעַד וְקַיָּם לָנֶֽצַח בָּרוּךְ חַנּוּן אֲשֶׁר לוֹ הַגְּדֻלָּ֨ה וְהַגְּבוּרָ֤ה והַתִּפְאֶ֙רֶת֙ וְהַנֵּ֣צַח׃ (דברי הימים א׳ כט:יא)	Blessed be the One Living Eternal and Existing Forever! Blessed be the Gracious One whose is greatness, power, splendor, and eternity! (I Chronicles 29:11)
בָּרוּךְ טְה֤וֹר עֵינַ֙יִם֙ (חבקוק א:יג) בָּרוּךְ טָס וְדִבֵּר מִבֵּין כְּרוּבִים שְׁנַֽיִם׃	Blessed be the Pure-Sighted! (Habakkuk 1:13) Blessed be the Flier who spoke from between the two cherubim!
בָּרוּךְ יָהּ מִסְתַּתֵּר בְּחֶבְיוֹן בָּרוּךְ שׁוֹמֵֽעַ צַעֲקַת עַם עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן׃	Blessed be Yah, hidden in visions! Blessed be the Hearer of the cry of the poor and needy people!^[5] The word people, עַם, Bis written in superscript in the manuscript.
בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹדוֹ מָלֵא שָׁמַֽיִם וָאָֽרֶץ בָּרוּךְ וְכָ֥ל בַּשָּׁלִ֖שׁ עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֑רֶץ׃ (ישעיה מ:יב)	Blessed be the One whose glory fills heaven and earth! Blessed be the One who measured the earth’s dust by thirds! (Isaiah 40:12)
בָּרוּךְ לְבַדּוֹ שׁוֹכֵן עֲלִיָּתוֹ בָּרוּךְ לֹ֥א יִיעַ֖ף וְלֹ֣א יִיגָ֑ע אֵ֥ין חֵ֖קֶר לִתְבוּנָתֽוֹ׃ (ישעיה מ:כח)	Blessed be the Only Dweller in the Heights! Blessed be the Neither Tiring Nor Toiling One with measureless understanding! (Isaiah 40:28)
בָּרוּךְ מַעֲבִיר אֲפֵלָה וּמֵבִיא אוֹרָה בָּרוּךְ מְנַהֵג עַמּוֹ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּדֶֽרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה׃	Blessed be the Remover of darkness and Bringer of light! Blessed be the Leader of Their people the house of Israel on a straight path!
בָּרוּךְ נֶ֝אְזָ֗ר בִּגְבוּרָֽה (תהלים סה:ז) בָּרוּךְ שׁוֹכֵן סְתָרִים וְעִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵא וּנְהוֹרָה׃	Blessed be the Strength-Girt! (Psalms 65:7) Blessed be the Dweller in Secrets, with whom light dwells!^[6] Find Daniel 2:22
בָּרוּךְ שָׂם עִמּוֹ הַמְשֵׁל וָפַֽחַד בָּרוּךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹא־יִשָּׂ֣א פָנִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א יִקַּ֖ח שֹֽׁחַד׃ (דברים י:יז)	Blessed be the One who sets with Them dominion and dread!^[7] Find Job 25:2 Blessed be the One who does not show bias or accept bribery! (Deuteronomy 10:17)
בָּרוּךְ עֹשֶׂה בִּמְרוֹמָיו שָׁלוֹם בָּרוּךְ לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָּרוֹב אָמַר שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם׃	Blessed be the Maker on high of peace!^[8] Find Job 25:2 Blessed be the One who said to the near and far, “Peace, peace!”^[9] Find Isaiah 57:19
בָּרוּךְ פֹּעֵ֥ל יְ֝שׁוּע֗וֹת (תהלים ז:יב) בָּרוּךְ צַדִּיק קֹרֵ֥א הַדֹּר֖וֹת׃ (ישעיה מא:ד)	Blessed be the Worker of Salvations! (Psalms 7:12) Blessed be the righteous Caller of Generations! (Isaiah 41:4)
בָּרוּךְ קָד֧וֹשׁ ׀ קָד֛וֹשׁ קָד֖וֹשׁ אָיֹם וְנוֹרָא בָּרוּךְ רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן וְעִמּוֹ גְּבוּרָה׃	Blessed be the holy, holy, holy^[10] Isaiah 6:3 Fearsome and Awesome One! Blessed be the Compassionate and Gracious One with whom is strength!
בָּרוּךְ שַׁדַּי שֹׁכֵ֥ן עַד֙ בָּרוּךְ תְּ֝הִלָּת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃ (תהלים קיא:י)	Blessed be the Surveyor, who dwells beyond! (Isaiah 57:15) Blessed be Their praise, standing forever! (Psalms 111:10)
בָּרוּךְ שֶׁאֵין לְפָנָיו לֹא־עַוְלָה וְלֹא־שִׁכְחָה לֹא־כָּזָב וְלֹא־מִרְמָה לֹא־מַשּׂוֹא פָנִים וְלֹא־מֶֽקַח שֹֽׁחַד וְהַכֹּל שֶׁלּוֹ וְהַכֹּל בְּמַאֲמָרוֹ׃	Blessed be the One without^[11] Literally: “before whom there is no.” A reference to Pirkei Avot 4:22. injustice, without forgetting, without deceit, without fraud, without bias, without bribery; all is Theirs and all is by Their word!
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הָאֵל הָאָב הָרַחְמָן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ הַמְּהֻלָּל בְּפִי עַמּוֹ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מְשֻׁבָּח וּמְפֹאָר וּמְרוֹמָם תָּמִיד בִּלְשׁוֹן כׇּל־חֲסִידָיו וְעַמּוֹ וַעֲבָדָיו בְּשִׁירֵי דָּוִד עַבְדְּךָ בֶּן יִשַׁי נְהַלֲּלֶֽךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ בִּשְׁבָחוֹ וּבְשִׁירוֹ וּבְזִמְרוֹ נוֹדֶֽךָ נְשַׁבְּחֶֽךָ נְפָאֲרֶֽךָ נְרוֹמְמֶֽךָ נַמְלִיכֶֽךָ נַקְדִישֶֽׁךָ נַעְרִיצֶֽךָ נוֹדֶה לְפָנֶֽיךָ נַזְכִּירָךְ וְנַזְכִּיר אֶת־שְׁמָךְ וְזִכְרָךְ עָלֵֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ תָּמִיד יַֽחַד׃	Blessed are You, Cause our God, Sovereign of existence, the Deity, Motherly Father, the Sovereign great and holy and praised in the mouth of Their people the house of Israel, lauded and glorified and exalted always in the tongue of all Their pious ones and Their people and Their servants, in the songs of David^[12] The word “David” דָּוִד is written in superscript in the manuscript. Your servant, the son of Jesse, we will praise You, Cause our God; by his laudation and his song and his hymn, we will acknowledge You, laud You, glorify You, exalt You, enthrone You, sanctify You, ennoble You; we will thank before You and recall You and Your name and moniker^[13] In the manuscript the words את שמך “Your name” are written here and marked with erasure dots. over us, our Sovereign, always together.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה מֶֽלֶךְ מְהֻלָּל בְּדִבְרֵי שִׁיר וּבְתֻשְׁבָּחוֹת תָּמִיד לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד׃	Blessed are You, Cause, Sovereign praised in words of song and in the laudations always forever and ever.

Source(s)

barukh sheamar (JTS MS 4522), fol. 18v

barukh sheamar (JTS MS 4522), fol. 19r

barukh sheamar (JTS MS 4522), fol. 19v

Notes

Notes
1	Find Isaiah 46:10
2	Find Psalms 89:8
3	Find Deuteronomy 4:35
4	Find Amos 3:7
5	The word people, עַם, Bis written in superscript in the manuscript.
6	Find Daniel 2:22
7	Find Job 25:2
8	Find Job 25:2
9	Find Isaiah 57:19
10	Isaiah 6:3
11	Literally: “before whom there is no.” A reference to Pirkei Avot 4:22.
12	The word “David” דָּוִד is written in superscript in the manuscript.
13	In the manuscript the words את שמך “Your name” are written here and marked with erasure dots.

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (transcription & naqdanut)

From a family of musicians, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer believes that creative art is one of the most powerful ways to get in touch with the divine. He composes music and poetry in Hebrew and English. (He also translates and authors his own original works.) Isaac runs a Jewish music transcription service, which will transcribe and set any Jewish music in any language, recorded or written. Contact his service on Facebook or via his music blog.

Isaac Gantwerk Mayer (translation)

From a family of musicians, Isaac Gantwerk Mayer believes that creative art is one of the most powerful ways to get in touch with the divine. He composes music and poetry in Hebrew and English. (He also authors his own original works and transcribes Hebrew and Aramaic text, adding niqqud and t'amim as needed.) Isaac runs a Jewish music transcription service, which will transcribe and set any Jewish music in any language, recorded or written. Contact his service on Facebook or via his music blog.

Unknown

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barukh sheamar (JTS MS 4522), fol. 18v

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." (Psalms 90:17)