Traditional Shema Prayer - Hebrew, Transliteration, and English Translation
Below is the traditional full Shema prayer as used in Jewish liturgy. It includes Hebrew, transliteration, and English translation.
שְׁמַע – The Shema Prayer
1. Core Declaration
Hebrew
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, ה׳ אֶחָד׃
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד׃
Transliteration
Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
Baruch shem k’vod malchuto l’olam va’ed.
English
Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.
Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom forever and ever.
2. Ve’ahavta (Deuteronomy 6:5–9)
Hebrew
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאֹדֶךָ׃
וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם עַל לְבָבֶךָ׃
וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ׃
וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאוֹת עַל יָדֶךָ וְהָיוּ לְטֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ׃
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזוּזוֹת בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ׃
Transliteration
Ve’ahavta et Adonai Elohecha b’chol levavcha u’v’chol nafshecha u’v’chol me’odecha.
V’hayu had’varim ha’eleh asher anochi m’tzav’cha hayom al levavecha.
V’shinantam l’vanecha v’dibarta bam b’shivtecha b’veitecha u’v’lecht’cha vaderech u’v’shochb’cha u’v’kumecha.
U’kshartam l’ot al yadecha v’hayu l’totafot bein einecha.
Uchtavtam al mezuzot beitecha u’vish’arecha.
English
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
These words that I command you today shall be upon your heart.
Teach them diligently to your children; speak of them when you sit in your home, when you walk on the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Bind them as a sign upon your hand and let them be as frontlets between your eyes.
Write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates.
3. Vehaya Im Shamoa (Deuteronomy 11:13–21)
Hebrew
וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל מִצְוֹתַי אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּוֹם... (full passage continues in traditional text)
Transliteration
Vehaya im shamoa tishme’u el mitzvotai asher anochi metzaveh etchem hayom…
English (excerpt meaning)
And it shall be, if you diligently obey My commandments… then I will give rain in its season and the land will yield its produce. But take care, lest your heart be deceived and you turn away.
(This section continues with blessings for obedience and warnings against turning away from God.)
4. Vayomer (Numbers 15:37–41)
Hebrew
וַיֹּאמֶר ה׳ אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר׃
דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם וְעָשׂוּ לָהֶם צִיצִת עַל כַּנְפֵי בִגְדֵיהֶם…
Transliteration
Vayomer Adonai el Moshe lemor.
Daber el Bnei Yisrael v’amarta alehem v’asu lahem tzitzit al kanfei vigdeihem…
English (excerpt meaning)
The Lord said to Moses: Speak to the children of Israel and tell them to make fringes (tzitzit) on the corners of their garments… so that you may look upon them and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them.
