Nishmat Kol Chai is one of the most beautiful and ancient prayers in our prayerbook. It is a song describing G‑d's greatness and kindness, and man's inability to adequately praise G‑d. It is recited during the Shabbat morning prayers, at the end of the Pesach Haggadah, and when visiting a cemetery. Here is the Hebrew text with a translation, followed by a transliteration.

Hebrew Text with Translation:

The soul of every living being shall bless Your Name, L‑rd, our G‑d; and the spirit of all flesh shall always glorify and exalt Your remembrance, our King. From the beginning to the end of the world You are Almighty G‑d; and other than You we have no King, Redeemer and Savior who delivers, rescues, sustains, answers and is merciful in every time of trouble and distress; we have no King but You.

נִשְׁמַת כָּל חַי תְּבָרֵךְ אֶת שִׁמְךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, וְרוּחַ כָּל בָּשָֹר תְּפָאֵר וּתְרוֹמֵם זִכְרְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ תָּמִיד: מִן הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעוֹלָם אַתָּה אֵל, וּמִבַּלְעָדֶיךָ אֵין לָנוּ מֶלֶךְ גּואֵל וּמוֹשִׁיעַ, פּוֹדֶה וּמַצִּיל וּמְפַרְנֵס וְעוֹנֶה וּמְרַחֵם בְּכָל עֵת צָרָה וְצוּקָה, אֵין לָנוּ מֶלֶךְ אֶלָּא אָתָּה:

[You are] the G‑d of the first and of the last [generations], G‑d of all creatures, L‑rd of all events, who is extolled with manifold praises, who directs His world with kindness and His creatures with compassion. Behold, the L‑rd neither slumbers nor sleeps. He arouses the sleepers and awakens the slumberous, gives speech to the mute, releases the bound, supports the falling and raises up those who are bowed.

אֱלֹהֵי הָרִאשׁוֹנִים וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִים, אֱלוֹהַּ כָּל בְּרִיוֹת, אֲדוֹן כָּל תּוֹלָדוֹת, הַמְּהֻלָּל בְּרוֹב הַתִּשְׁבָּחוֹת, הַמְּנַהֵג עוֹלָמוֹ בְּחֶסֶד וּבְרִיּוֹתָיו בְּרַחֲמִים, וַיָי הִנֵּה לֹא יָנוּם וְלֹא יִישָׁן, הַמְעורֵר יְשֵׁנִים, וְהַמֵּקִיץ נִרְדָּמִים, וְהַמֵּשִׂיחַ אִלְמִים, וְהַמַּתִּיר אֲסוּרִים, וְהַסּוֹמֵךְ נוֹפְלִים, וְהַזּוֹקֵף כְּפוּפִים:

To You alone we give thanks. Even if our mouths were filled with song as the sea, and our tongues with joyous singing like the multitudes of its waves, and our lips with praise like the expanse of the sky; and our eyes shining like the sun and the moon, and our hands spread out like the eagles of heaven, and our feet swift like deer we would still be unable to thank You L‑rd, our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers, and to bless Your Name, for even one of the thousands of millions, and myriads of myriads, of favors, miracles and wonders which You have done for us and for our fathers before us. L‑rd, our G‑d.

לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ אֲנַחְנוּ מוֹדִים. אִלּוּ פִינוּ מָלֵא שִׁירָה כַּיָּם, וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה כַּהֲמוֹן גַּלָּיו, וְשִֹפְתוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁבַח כְּמֶרְחֲבֵי רָקִיעַ, וְעֵינֵינוּ מְאִירוֹת כַּשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְכַיָּרֵחַ, וְיָדֵינוּ פְרוּשוֹת כְּנִשְׁרֵי שָׁמָיִם, וְרַגְלֵינוּ קַלּוֹת כָּאַיָּלוֹת. אֵין אָנוּ מַסְפִּיקִים לְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, וּלְבָרֵךְ אֶת שְׁמֶךָ עַל אַחַת מֵאָלֶף אַלְפֵי אֲלָפִים, וְרִבֵּי רְבָבוֹת פְּעָמִים, הַטּוֹבוֹת נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת שֶׁעָשִֹיתָ עִמָּנוּ וְעִם אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִלְּפָנִים:

You have redeemed us from Egypt, You have freed us from the house of bondage, You have fed us in famine and nourished us in plenty; You have saved us from the sword and delivered us from pestilence, and raised us from evil and lasting maladies. Until now Your mercies have helped us, and Your kindnesses have not forsaken us; and do not abandon us, L‑rd our G‑d, forever! Therefore, the limbs which You have arranged within us, and the spirit and soul which You have breathed into our nostrils, and the tongue which You have placed in our mouth they all shall thank, bless, praise, glorify, exalt, adore, sanctify and proclaim the sovereignty of Your Name, our King.

מִמִּצְרַיִם גְּאַלְתָּנוּ, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים פְּדִיתָנוּ, בְּרָעָב זַנְתָּנוּ, וּבְשָֹבָע כִּלְכַּלְתָּנו:, מֵחֶרֶב הִצַּלְתָּנוּ, וּמִדֶּבֶר מִלַּטְתָּנוּ, וּמֵחֳלָיִם רָעִים וְנֶאֱמָנִים דִּלִּיתָנו: עַד הֵנָּה עֲזָרוּנוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ, וְלֹא עֲזָבוּנוּ חֲסָדֶיךָ, וְאַל תִּטְּשֵׁנוּ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ לָנֶצַח: עַל כֵּן, אֵבָרִים שֶׁפִּלַּגְתָּ בָּנו:, וְרוּחַ וּנְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּפַחְתָּ בְּאַפֵּינו:, וְלָשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר שַֹמְתָּ בְּפִינוּ. הֵן הֵם: יוֹדוּ וִיבָרְכוּ וִישַׁבְּחוּ וִיפָאֲרוּ, וִירוֹמְמוּ וְיַעֲרִיצוּ, וְיַקְדִּישׁוּ וְיַמְלִיכוּ אֶת שִׁמְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ:

For every mouth shall offer thanks to You, every tongue shall swear by You, every eye shall look to You, every knee shall bend to You, all who stand erect shall, l bow down before You, all hearts shall fear You, and every innermost part shall sing praise to Your Name, as it is written: "All my bones will say, L‑rd, who is like You; You save the poor from one stronger than he, the poor and the needy from one who would rob him!" Who can be likened to You, who is equal to You, who can be compared to You, the great, mighty, awesome G‑d, G‑d most high, Possessor of heaven and earth! We will laud You, praise You and glorify You, and we will bless Your holy Name e, as it is said: "[A Psalm] by David; bless the L‑rd, O my soul, and all that is within me [bless] His holy Name."

כִּי כָל פֶּה, לְךָ יוֹדֶה: וְכָל לָשׁוֹן לְךָ תִשָּׁבַע: וְכָל עַיִן לְךָ תְצַפֶּה: וְכָל בֶּרֶךְ, לְךָ תִכְרַע: וְכָל קוֹמָה, לְפָנֶיךָ תִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה: וְכָל הַלְּבָבוֹת יִירָאוּךָ: וְכָל קֶרֶב וּכְלָיוֹת יְזַמְּרוּ לִשְׁמֶךָ: כַּדָּבָר שֶׁכָּתוּב, כָּל עַצְמוֹתַי תֹּאמַרְנָה: יְיָ מִי כָמוֹךָ: מַצִּיל עָנִי מֵחָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ, וְעָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן מִגֹּזְלוֹ: מִי יִדְמֶה לָּךְ, וּמִי יִשְׁוֶה לָּךְ, וּמִי יַעֲרָךְ לָךְ, הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל, הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא, אֵל עֶלְיוֹן קֹנֵה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ: נְהַלֶּלְךָ, וּנְשַׁבֵּחֲךָ, וּנְפָאֶרְךָ, וּנְבָרֵךְ אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשֶׁךָ, כָּאָמוּר: לְדָוִד בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת יְיָ, וְכָל קְרָבַי אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ:

You are the Almighty G‑d in the power of Your strength; the Great in the glory of Your Name; the Mighty forever, and the Awesome in Your awesome deeds; the King who sits upon a lofty and exalted throne.

הָאֵל בְּתַעֲצֻמוֹת עֻזֶּךָ, הַגָּדוֹל בִּכְבוֹד שְׁמֶךָ, הַגִּבּוֹר לָנֶצַח, וְהַנּוֹרָא בְּנוֹרְאוֹתֶיךָ: הַמֶּלֶךְ הַיּוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רָם וְנִשָֹּא:

He who dwells for eternity, lofty and holy is His Name. And it is written: "Sing joyously to the L‑rd, you righteous; it befits the upright to offer praise." By the mouth of the upright You are exalted; by the lips of the righteous You are blessed ; by the tongue of the pious You are sanctified; and among the holy ones You are praised.

שׁוכֵן עַד מָרוֹם וְקָדוֹשׁ שְׁמוֹ, וְכָתוּב רַנְּנוּ צַדִּיקִים בַיָי: לַיְשָׁרִים נָאוָה תְהִלָּה: בְּפִי יְשָׁרִים תִּתְרוֹמָם, וּבְשִֹפְתֵי צַדִּיקִים תִּתְבָּרֵךְ, וּבִלְשׁוֹן חֲסִידִים תִּתְקַדָּשׁ, וּבְקֶרֶב קְדוֹשִׁים תִּתְהַלָּל:

In the assemblies of the myriads of Your people, the House of Israel, Your Name, our King, shall be glorified with song in every generation. For such is the obligation of all creatures before You, L‑rd, our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers, to thank, to laud, to praise, to glorify, to exalt, to adore, to bless, to elevate and to honor You, even beyond all the words of songs and praises of David son of Yishai, Your anointed servant.

וּבְמַקְהֵלוֹת רִבְבוֹת עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְֹרָאֵל, בְּרִנָּה יִתְפָּאֵר שִׁמְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר: שֶׁכֵּן חוֹבַת כָּל הַיְצוּרִים: לְפָנֶיךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ: לְהוֹדוֹת לְהַלֵּל, לְשַׁבֵּחַ לְפָאֵר, לְרוֹמֵם, לְהַדֵּר, לְבָרֵך, לְעַלֵּה וּלְקַלֵּס, עַל כָּל דִּבְרֵי שִׁירוֹת וְתִשְׁבְּחוֹת דָּוִד בֶּן יִשַׁי עַבְדְּךָ, מְשִׁיחֶךָ:

Transliteration:

Neesh-maht kohl khai ti-vah-raykh eht sheem-khah Ah-doh-nai eh-loh-hay-noo vi-roo-akh kohl bah-sahr ti-fah-ayr oot-roh-maym zeekh-reh-khah mahl-kay-noo tah-meed. meen hah-oh-lahm vahd hah-oh-lahm ah-tah ayl. oo-mee-bah-lah-deh-khah ayn lah-noo meh-lekh goh-ayl oo-moh-shee-ah poh-deh oo-mah-tzeel oom-fahr-nays voh-neh oom-rah-khaym bi-khohl ayt tzah-rah vi-tzoo-kah ayn lah-noo meh-lekh eh-lah ah-tah.

Eh-loh-hay hah-ree-shoh-neem vi-hah-ah-khah-roh-neem eh-loh-hah kohl bree-oht ah-dohn kohl toh-lah-doht hahm-hoo-lahl bi-rohv hah-teesh-bah-khoht hahm-nah-hayg oh-lah-moh bi-kheh-sehd oov-ree-oh-tahv bi-rah-khah-meem Vah-doh-nai hee-nayh loh yah-noom vi-loh yee-shahn hah-meh-orayr yi-shay-neem vi-hah-may-keetz neer-dah-meem vi-hah-may-see-akh eel-meem vi-hah-mah-teer ah-soo-reem vi-hah-soh-maykh nohf-leem vi-hah-zoh-kayf ki-foo-feem.

Li-khah li-vahd-khah ah-nakh-noo moh-deem. ee-loo fee-noo mah-lay shee-rah kah-yahm ool-shoh-nay-noo ree-nah kah-hah-mohn gah-lahv vi-seef-toh-tay-noo sheh-vakh ki-mehr-khah-vay rah-kee-ah vay-nay-noo mee-roht kah-sheh-mesh vi-khah-yah-ray-akh vi-yah-day-noo fi-roo-soht ki-nee-shray shah-mah-yeem vi-rahg-lay-noo kah-loht kah-ah-yah-loht. ayn ah-noo mah-spee-keem li-hoh-doht li-khah Ah-doh-nai eh-loh-hay-noo vay-loh-hay ah-voh-tay-noo ool-vah-raykh eht sheem-khah ahl ah-khaht may-ah-lehf ahl-fay ah-lah-feem vi-ree-bay ri-vah-voht pah-meem hah-toh-voht nee-seem vi-neef-lah-oht sheh-ah-see-tah ee-mah-noo veem ah-voh-tay-noo meel-fah-neem.

mee-meetz-rah-yeem gahl-tah-noo Ah-doh-nai eh-loh-hay-noo mee-bayt ah-vah-deem pi-dee-tah-noo bi-rah-ahv zahn-tah-noo oov-sah-vah keel-kahl-tah-noo may-kheh-rehv hee-tzahl-tah-noo oo-mee-deh-vehr mee-laht-tah-noo oo-may-khah-lah-yeem rah-eem vi-neh-eh-mah-neem dee-lee-tah-noo. ahd hay-nah ah-zah-roo-noo rah-khah-meh-khah vi-loh ah-zah-voo-noo khah-sah-deh-khah vi-ahl teet-shay-noo Ah-doh-nai eh-loh-hay-noo lah-neh-tzakh. ahl kayn ay-vah-reem sheh-pee-lahg-tah bah-noo vi-roo-akh oon-shah-mah sheh-nah-fahkh-tah bah-pay-noo vi-lah-shohn ah-shehr sahm-tah bi-fee-noo. hayn haym: yoh-doo vee-vahr-khoo vee-shahb-khoo vee-fah-ah-roo vee-rohm-moo vi-yah-ah-ree-tzoo vi-yahk-dee-shoo vi-yahm-lee-khoo eht sheem-khah mahl-kay-noo.

Kee khohl peh li-khah yoh-deh. vi-khohl lah-shohn li-khah tee-shah-vah. vi-khohl ah-yeen li-khah ti-tzah-peh. vi-khohl beh-rekh li-khah teekh-rah. vi-khohl koh-mah li-fah-neh-khah teesh-tah-khah-veh. vi-khohl hahl-vah-voht yee-rah-oo-khah. vi-khohl keh-rehv oo-khlah-yoht yi-zahm-roo leesh-meh-khah. kah-dah-vahr sheh-kah-toov kohl ah-tzmoh-tai toh-mahr-nah. Ah-doh-nai mee khah-moh-khah. mah-tzeel ah-nee may-khah-zahk mee-meh-noo vah-nee vehv-yohn mee-gohz-loh. mee yeed-meh lakh oo-mee yeesh-veh lakh oo-mee yah-ah-rakh lakh hah-ayl hah-gah-dohl hah-gee-bohr vi-hah-noh-rah ayl ehl-yohn koh-nay shah-mah-yeem vah-ah-rehtz. ni-hah-lehl-khah oon-shah-bay-khah-khah oon-fah-ehr-khah oon-vah-raykh eht shaym kahd-sheh-khah kah-ah-moor. li-dah-veed bahr-khee nahf-shee eht Ah-doh-nai vi-khohl ki-rah-vai eht shaym kahd-shoh.

Hah-ayl bi-tah-ah-tzoo-moht oo-zeh-khah hah-gah-dohl beekh-vohd shmeh-khah hah-gee-bohr lah-neh-tzakh vi-hah-noh-rah bi-noh-roh-teh-khah. hah-meh-lekh hah-yoh-shayv ahl kee-say rahm vi-nee-soh-ah.

Shoh-khayn ahd mah-rohm vi-kah-dohsh shi-moh vi-khah-toov rah-ni-noo tzah-dee-keem Bah-doh-nai. lai-shah-reem nah-vah ti-hee-lah. bi-fee yi-shah-reem teet-roh-mahm oov-seef-tay tzah-dee-keem teet-bah-rakh oo-veel-shohn khah-see-deem teet-kah-dahsh oov-keh-rehv ki-doh-sheem teet-hah-lahl.

Oov-mahk-hay-loht ree-vi-voht ahm-khah bayt yee-srah-ayl bi-ree-nah yeet-pah-ayr sheem-khah mahl-kay-noo bi-khohl dohr vah-dohr. sheh-kayn khoh-vaht kohl hai-tzoo-reem. li-fah-neh-khah Ah-doh-nai eh-loh-hay-noo vay-loh-hay ah-voh-tay-noo. li-hoh-doht li-hah-layl li-shah-bay-akh li-fah-ayr li-roh-maym li-hah-dayr li-vah-raykh lah-layh ool-kah-lays ahl kohl deev-ray shee-roht vi-teeshb-khoht dah-veed behn yee-shai ahv-di-khah mi-shee-kheh-khah.