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The following is the first half of the current Ashkenazi version of the prayer (there is also a second paragraph, which some traditions omit, though it is a standard part of the Ashkenazi orthodox liturgy). Translation by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, from the Koren Sacks Siddur, Copyright 2009.
| # | English translation | Transliteration | Hebrew |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | It is our duty to praise the Master of all, | Aleinu l'shabeach la'Adon hakol | עָלֵינוּ לְשַׁבֵּחַ לַאֲדוֹן הַכֹּל, |
| 2 | to ascribe greatness to the Author of creation, |
latet gedulah l'yotzer b'reishit, | לָתֵת גְּדֻלָּה לְיוֹצֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית, |
| 3 | who has not made us like the nations of the lands |
sh'lo asanu k'goyei ha'aratzot, | שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂנוּ כְּגוֹיֵי הָאֲרָצוֹת, |
| 4 | nor placed us like the families of the earth; |
v'lo samanu k'mish'p'chot ha'adamah, | וְלֹא שָׂמָנוּ כְּמִשְׁפְּחוֹת הָאֲדָמָה. |
| 5 | who has not made our portion like theirs, |
shelo sam chel'qenu kahem, | שֶׁלֹּא שָׂם חֶלְקֵנוּ כָּהֶם, |
| 6 | nor our destiny like all their multitudes. |
v'goralenu k'khol hamonam. | .וְגוֹרָלֵנוּ כְּכָל הֲמוֹנָם |
| 7 | For they worship vanity and emptiness, | Sh'hem mish'tachavim l'hevel variq | שֶׁהֵם מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לְהֶבֶל וָרִיק, |
| 8 | and pray to a god who cannot save. | umit'pal'lim al el lo yoshia | וּמִתְפַּלְּלִים אֶל אֵל לֹא יוֹשִׁיעַ. |
| 9 | But we bow in worship and thank | Va'anachnu qor`im, umishtachavim umodim, | וַאֲנַחְנוּ כֹּרעִים ומִשְׁתַּחֲוִים ומוֹדים, |
| 10 | the Supreme King of kings, | lif'nei Melekh, Mal'khei haM'lakhim, | לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים |
| 11 | the Holy One, Blessed be He, | haQadosh barukh Hu. | הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. |
| 12 | who extends the heavens and establishes the earth, |
Shehu noteh shamayim, v'yosed aretz, | שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֶה שָׁמַיִם וְיֹסֵד אָרֶץ, |
| 13 | whose throne of glory is in the heavens above, |
umoshav y'qaro bashamayim mima'al, | וּמוֹשַׁב יְקָרוֹ בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל, |
| 14 | and whose power's Presence is in the highest of heights. |
ushkhinat uzo begav'hei m'romim, | וּשְׁכִינַת עֻזּוֹ בְּגָבְהֵי מְרוֹמִים. |
| 15 | He is our God; there is no other. | Hu Eloheinu ein od, | הוּא אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֵין עוֹד, |
| 16 | Truly He is our King, there is none else, |
emet mal'kenu, efes zulato, | אֱמֶת מַלְכֵּנוּ אֶפֶס זוּלָתוֹ. |
| 17 | as it is written in His Torah: | kakatuv beTorato: | כַּכָּתוּב בְּתּוֹרָתוֹ: |
| 18 | "You shall know and take to heart this day |
v'yada'ta hayom, vahashevota el l'vavekha. |
וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ אֶל לְבָבֶךָ, |
| 19 | that the Lord is God, | Ki Adonai, hu haElohim, | כִּי יי הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים |
| 20 | in the heavens above | bashamayim mi ma`al, | בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל |
| 21 | and on earth below. There is no other." |
v'al ha'aretz mitachat. Ein od. | וְעַל הָאָרֶץ מִתָּחַת. אֵין עוֹד |
The literal translation of line number 9 is "But we bend our knees and bow down and express thanks". The Sefardic/Mizrahi tradition shortens this line to ואנחנוּ משׁתּחום -- Va'anchnu mishtachavim -- "But we bow down".
The quotation in lines 18-21 is Deuteronomy 4:39.
Read more about this topic: Aleinu
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