Hallel, literally meaning praise, is a series of chapters of the Psalms (114-118) singing G‑d's praises. The sages instituted reciting these chapters on holidays and at the beginning of every month.
The following are the weekdays on which Complete Hallel is recited: every day of Sukkot and every day of Chanukah. On Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed Pesach, half Hallel is recited.
Text with translation and instructions
The chazzan recites the following blessing. When reciting Complete Hallel, the congregation responds Amen as indicated and repeats the blessing. When reciting Half Hallel, only the chazzan recites the blessing, and the congregation responds Amen as indicated. Uttering any word—other than prayer—is prohibited from this point until after the concluding blessing of Hallel.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to recite the Hallel. Cong. Amen.
בָּרֽוּךְ אַתָּֽה יְיָ אֱלהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָֽם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָֽיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ לִקְרֽוֹא אֶת־הַהַלֵּֽל:
Praise the Lord. Offer praise, you servants of the Lord; praise the Name of the Lord. May the Name of the Lord be blessed from now and to all eternity. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Name of the Lord is praised. The Lord is high above all nations; His glory transcends the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high [yet] looks down so low upon heaven and earth! He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the destitute from the dunghill, to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His people. He transforms the barren woman into a household, into a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord.
הַלְלוּיָהּ הַלְלוּ עַבְדֵי יְיָ הַלְלוּ אֶת שֵׁם יְיָ: יְהִי שֵׁם יְיָ מְבֹרָךְ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם: מִמִּזְרַח־שֶֽׁמֶשׁ עַד־מְבוֹאוֹ מְהֻלָּל שֵׁם יְיָ: רָם עַל־כָּל־גּוֹיִם יְיָ עַל הַשָּׁמַֽיִם כְּבוֹדוֹ: מִי כַּייָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ הַמַּגְבִּיהִי לָשָֽׁבֶת: הַמַּשְׁפִּילִי לִרְאוֹת בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם וּבָאָֽרֶץ: מְקִימִי מֵעָפָר דָּל מֵאַשְׁפֹּת יָרִים אֶבְיוֹן: לְהוֹשִׁיבִי עִם־נְדִיבִים עִם נְדִיבֵי עַמּוֹ: מוֹשִׁיבִי עֲקֶֽרֶת הַבַּֽיִת אֵם־הַבָּנִים שְׂמֵחָה הַלְלוּיָהּ:
When Israel went out of Egypt, the House of Jacob from a people of a foreign tongue, Judah became His holy [nation], Israel, His domain. The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned backward. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like young sheep. What is the matter with you, O sea, that you flee; Jordan, that you turn backward; mountains, that you skip like rams; hills, like young sheep? [We do so] before the Master, the Creator of the earth, before the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint-stone into a water fountain.
בְּצֵאת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם בֵּית יַעֲקֹב מֵעַם לֹעֵז: הָיְתָה יְהוּדָה לְקָדְשׁוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מַמְשְׁלוֹתָיו: הַיָּם רָאָה וַיָּנֹס הַיַּרְדֵּן יִסֹּב לְאָחוֹר: הֶהָרִים רָקְדוּ כְאֵילִים גְּבָעוֹת כִּבְנֵי־צֹאן: מַה־לְּךָ הַיָּם כִּי תָנוּס הַיַּרְדֵּן תִּסֹּב לְאָחוֹר: הֶהָרִים תִּרְקְדוּ כְאֵילִים גְּבָעוֹת כִּבְנֵי־צֹאן: מִלִּפְנֵי אָדוֹן חֽוּלִי אָֽרֶץ מִלִּפְנֵי אֱלֽוֹהַּ יַעֲקֹב: הַהֹפְכִי הַצּוּר אֲגַם־מָֽיִם חַלָּמִישׁ לְמַעְיְנוֹ־מָֽיִם:
On Rosh Chodesh and the last six days of Pesach, omit the following paragraph.
Not for our sake, Lord, not for our sake, but for the sake of Your Name bestow glory, because of Your kindness and Your truth. Why should the nations say, “Where, now, is their God?” Indeed, our God is in heaven, whatever He desires, He does. Their idols are of silver and gold, the product of human hands. They have a mouth, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear; they have a nose, but cannot smell; their hands cannot touch; their feet cannot walk; they can make no sound in their throat. Those who make them will become like them—all who put their trust in them. Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. House of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
לֹא לָֽנוּ יְיָ לֹא לָֽנוּ כִּי לְשִׁמְךָ תֵּן כָּבוֹד עַל־חַסְדְּךָ עַל־אֲמִתֶּֽךָ: לָֽמָּה יֹאמְרוּ הַגּוֹיִם אַיֵּה־נָא אֱלֹהֵיהֶם: וֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ בַשָּׁמָֽיִם כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־חָפֵץ עָשָׂה: עֲצַבֵּיהֶם כֶּֽסֶף וְזָהָב מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם: פֶּה־לָהֶם וְלֹא יְדַבֵּֽרוּ עֵינַֽיִם לָהֶם וְלֹא יִרְאוּ: אָזְנַֽיִם לָהֶם וְלֹא יִשְׁמָֽעוּ אַף לָהֶם וְלֹא יְרִיחוּן: יְדֵיהֶם וְלֹא יְמִישׁוּן רַגְלֵיהֶם וְלֹא יְהַלֵּֽכוּ לֹא־יֶהְגּוּ בִּגְרוֹנָם: כְּמוֹהֶם יִהְיוּ עֹשֵׂיהֶם כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־בֹּטֵֽחַ בָּהֶם: יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּטַח בַּייָ עֶזְרָם וּמָגִנָּם הוּא: בֵּית אַהֲרֹן בִּטְחוּ בַייָ עֶזְרָם וּמָגִנָּם הוּא: יִרְאֵי יְיָ בִּטְחוּ בַייָ עֶזְרָם וּמָגִנָּם הוּא:
The Lord who is ever mindful of us, may He bless: May He bless the House of Israel; may He bless the House of Aaron; may He bless those who fear the Lord, the small with the great. May the Lord increase [blessing] upon you, upon you and upon your children. You are blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth He gave to the children of man. The dead cannot praise the Lord, nor any who descends into the silence [of the grave]. But we will bless the Lord from now to eternity. Praise the Lord.
יְיָ זְכָרָֽנוּ יְבָרֵךְ יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל יְבָרֵךְ אֶת־בֵּית אַהֲרֹן: יְבָרֵךְ יִרְאֵי יְיָ הַקְּטַנִּים עִם־הַגְּדֹלִים: יֹסֵף יְיָ עֲלֵיכֶם עֲלֵיכֶם וְעַל־בְּנֵיכֶם: בְּרוּכִים אַתֶּם לַייָ עֹשֵׂה שָׁמַֽיִם וָאָֽרֶץ: הַשָּׁמַֽיִם שָׁמַֽיִם לַייָ וְהָאָֽרֶץ נָתַן לִבְנֵי־אָדָם: לֹא־הַמֵּתִים יְהַלְלוּ־יָהּ וְלֹא כָּל־יֹרְדֵי דוּמָה: וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ נְבָרֵךְ יָהּ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם הַלְלוּיָהּ:
On Rosh Chodesh and the last six days of Pesach, omit the following paragraph.
I would love if the Lord would listen to my voice, to my supplications; if He would turn His ear to me on the days when I call. The pangs of death encompassed me, and the misery of the grave came upon me; I encounter trouble and sorrow. I invoke the Name of the Lord, “Lord, I implore you, deliver my soul!” The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate. The Lord watches over the simpletons; I was brought low and He saved me. Return, my soul, to your tranquility, for the Lord has bestowed goodness upon you. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the lands of the living. I had faith even when I declared, “I am greatly afflicted”; [even when] I said in my haste, “All men are deceitful.”
אָהַֽבְתִּי כִּי־יִשְׁמַע יְיָ אֶת־קוֹלִי תַּחֲנוּנָי: כִּי־הִטָּה אָזְנוֹ לִי וּבְיָמַי אֶקְרָא: אֲפָפֽוּנִי חֶבְלֵי־מָֽוֶת וּמְצָרֵי שְׁאוֹל מְצָאֽוּנִי צָרָה וְיָגוֹן אֶמְצָא: וּבְשֵׁם־יְיָ אֶקְרָא אָנָּה יְיָ מַלְּטָה נַפְשִׁי: חַנּוּן יְיָ וְצַדִּיק וֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ מְרַחֵם: שֹׁמֵר פְּתָאיִם יְיָ דַּלּוֹתִי וְלִי יְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ: שׁוּבִי נַפְשִׁי לִמְנוּחָֽיְכִי כִּי־יְיָ גָּמַל עָלָֽיְכִי: כִּי חִלַּֽצְתָּ נַפְשִׁי מִמָּֽוֶת אֶת־עֵינִי מִן־דִּמְעָה אֶת־רַגְלִי מִדֶּֽחִי: אֶתְהַלֵּךְ לִפְנֵי יְיָ בְּאַרְצוֹת הַחַיִּים: הֶאֱמַֽנְתִּי כִּי אֲדַבֵּר אֲנִי עָנִֽיתִי מְאֹד: אֲנִי אָמַֽרְתִּי בְחָפְזִי כָּל־הָאָדָם כֹּזֵב:
What can I tender to the Lord for all His beneficences to me? I will raise the cup of deliverance and proclaim the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord, now, in the presence of all His people. Grievous in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones. I thank you, Lord, that since I am Your servant, I am Your servant the son of Your maidservant, You have loosened my bonds. To You I will bring an offering of thanksgiving, and proclaim the Name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord, now, in the presence of all His people, in the courtyards of the House of the Lord, in the midst of Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.
מָה־אָשִׁיב לַייָ כָּל־תַּגְמוּלֽוֹהִי עָלָי: כּוֹס־יְשׁוּעוֹת אֶשָּׂא וּבְשֵׁם יְיָ אֶקְרָא: נְדָרַי לַייָ אֲשַׁלֵּם נֶגְדָה־נָּא לְכָל־עַמּוֹ: יָקָר בְּעֵינֵי יְיָ הַמָּֽוְתָה לַחֲסִידָיו: אָנָּה יְיָ כִּי־אֲנִי עַבְדֶּֽךָ אֲנִי־עַבְדְּךָ בֶּן־אֲמָתֶֽךָ פִּתַּֽחְתָּ לְמוֹסֵרָי: לְךָ־אֶזְבַּח זֶֽבַח תּוֹדָה וּבְשֵׁם יְיָ אֶקְרָא: נְדָרַי לַייָ אֲשַׁלֵּם נֶגְדָה־נָּא לְכָל־עַמּוֹ: בְּחַצְרוֹת בֵּית יְיָ בְּתוֹכֵֽכִי יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ הַלְלוּיָהּ:
Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples. For His kindness was mighty over us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord.
הַלְלוּ אֶת־יְיָ כָּל־גּוֹיִם שַׁבְּחֽוּהוּ כָּל־הָאֻמִּים: כִּי גָּבַר עָלֵֽינוּ חַסְדּוֹ וֶאֱמֶת־יְיָ לְעוֹלָם הַלְלוּיָהּ:
Four verses are recited aloud by the chazzan as indicated in the bold. After each verse, the congregation responds “Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting,” and then recites the subsequent verse in an undertone as indicated. When praying without a minyan recite only the unbolded verses.
Chazzan: Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
Cong.: Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. Let Israel declare that His kindness is everlasting.
הוֹדוּ לַייָ כִּי־טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
הוֹדוּ לַייָ כִּי־טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
יֹֽאמַר־נָא יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
Chazzan: Let Israel declare that His kindness is everlasting.
Cong.: Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is everlasting.
יֹֽאמַר־נָא יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
הוֹדוּ לַייָ כִּי־טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
יֹֽאמְרוּ־נָא בֵית־אַהֲרֹן כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
Chazzan: Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is everlasting.
Cong.: Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. Let those who fear the Lord declare that His kindness is everlasting.
יֹֽאמְרוּ־נָא בֵית־אַהֲרֹן כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
הוֹדוּ לַייָ כִּי־טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
יֹֽאמְרוּ־נָא יִרְאֵי יְיָ כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
Chazzan: Let those who fear the Lord declare that His kindness is everlasting.
Cong.: Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
יֹֽאמְרוּ־נָא יִרְאֵי יְיָ כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
הוֹדוּ לַייָ כִּי־טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
From out of distress I called to God; with abounding relief, God answered me. The Lord is with me, I do not fear—what can man do to me? The Lord is with me among my helpers, and I will see [the downfall of] my enemies. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in nobles. All the nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down. They surrounded me, they encompassed me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down. They surrounded me like bees, yet they shall be extinguished like fiery thorns; in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down. You [my foes] repeatedly pushed me to fall, but the Lord helped me. God is my strength and song, and He has been a help to me. The sound of rejoicing and deliverance reverberates in the tents of the righteous, “The right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor!” I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of God. God has indeed chastised me, but He did not give me up to death. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them and praise God. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous will enter it. I offer thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have been my deliverance. I offer thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have been my deliverance. The stone which the builders scorned has become the chief cornerstone. The stone which the builders scorned has become the chief cornerstone. From the Lord has this come about; it is wondrous in our eyes. From the Lord has this come about; it is wondrous in our eyes.This is the day which the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice on it. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice on it.
מִן־הַמֵּצַר קָרָֽאתִי יָהּ עָנָֽנִי בַמֶּרְחָב יָהּ: יְיָ לִי לֹא אִירָא מַה־יַּעֲשֶׂה לִי אָדָם: יְיָ לִי בְּעֹזְרָי וַאֲנִי אֶרְאֶה בְשׂנְאָי: טוֹב לַחֲסוֹת בַּייָ מִבְּטֹֽחַ בָּאָדָם: טוֹב לַחֲסוֹת בַּייָ מִבְּטֹֽחַ בִּנְדִיבִים: כָּל־גּוֹיִם סְבָבֽוּנִי בְּשֵׁם יְיָ כִּי אֲמִילַם: סַבּֽוּנִי גַם־סְבָבֽוּנִי בְּשֵׁם יְיָ כִּי אֲמִילַם: סַבּֽוּנִי כִדְבֹרִים דֹּעֲכוּ כְּאֵשׁ קוֹצִים בְּשֵׁם יְיָ כִּי אֲמִילַם: דָּחֹה דְחִיתַֽנִי לִנְפֹּל וַייָ עֲזָרָֽנִי: עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ וַיְהִי־לִי לִישׁוּעָה: קוֹל רִנָּה וִישׁוּעָה בְּאָהֳלֵי צַדִּיקִים יְמִין יְיָ עֹֽשָה חָֽיִל: יְמִין יְיָ רוֹמֵמָה יְמִין יְיָ עֹֽשָה חָֽיִל: לֹא־אָמוּת כִּי־אֶחְיֶה וַאֲסַפֵּר מַעֲשֵׂי יָהּ: יַסֹּר יִסְּרַֽנִּי יָהּ וְלַמָּֽוֶת לֹא נְתָנָֽנִי: פִּתְחוּ־לִי שַֽׁעֲרֵי־צֶֽדֶק אָֽבֹא־בָם אוֹדֶה יָהּ: זֶה־הַשַּֽׁעַר לַייָ צַדִּיקִים יָבֹֽאוּ בוֹ: אוֹדְךָ כִּי עֲנִיתָֽנִי וַתְּהִי־לִי לִישׁוּעָה: אודך. אֶֽבֶן מָאֲסוּ הַבּוֹנִים הָיְתָה לְרֹאשׁ פִּנָּה: אבן. מֵאֵת יְיָ הָֽיְתָה זֹּאת הִיא נִפְלָאת בְּעֵינֵֽינוּ: מאת. זֶה־הַיּוֹם עָשָׂה יְיָ נָגִֽילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בוֹ: זה.
Each of the following lines is recited aloud by the chazzan, followed by the congregation.
We implore You, Lord, deliver us now.
אָֽנָּא יְיָ הוֹשִֽׁיעָה נָּא:
We implore You, Lord, deliver us now.
אָֽנָּא יְיָ הוֹשִֽׁיעָה נָּא:
We implore You, Lord, grant us success now.
אָֽנָּא יְיָ הַצְלִיחָה נָא:
We implore You, Lord, grant us success now.
אָֽנָּא יְיָ הַצְלִיחָה נָא:
Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord; we bless you from the House of the Lord. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord; we bless you from the House of the Lord. The Lord is a benevolent God and He has given us light; bind the festival offering with cords until [you bring it to] the horns of the altar. The Lord is a benevolent God and He has given us light; bind the festival offering with cords until [you bring it to] the horns of the altar. You are my God and I will praise You, my God—and I will exalt You. You are my God and I will praise You, my God—and I will exalt You. Praise the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. Praise the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
בָּרוּךְ הַבָּא בְּשֵׁם יְיָ בֵּרַכְנוּכֶם מִבֵּית יְיָ: ברוך. אֵל יְיָ וַיָּֽאֶר לָֽנוּ אִסְרוּ־חַג בַּעֲבֹתִים עַד־קַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ: אל. יי אֵלִי אַתָּה וְאוֹדֶֽךָ אֱלֹהַי אֲרוֹמְמֶֽךָ: אלי אתה. הוֹדוּ לַייָ כִּי־טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: הודו ליי.
Lord our God, all Your works will praise You; and Your pious ones, the righteous who carry out Your will, and all Your people, the House of Israel, with joyous song will praise and bless, extol and glorify, exalt and adore, hallow and proclaim the sovereignty of Your Name, our King. For it is good to praise You, and fitting to sing to Your Name, for from the highest world to the lowest You are God.
יְהַלְלֽוּךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ (על) כָּל־מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ, וַחֲסִידֶֽיךָ צַדִּיקִים עוֹשֵׂי רְצוֹנֶֽךָ, וְכָל־עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּרִנָּה יוֹדוּ וִיבָרְכוּ, וִישַׁבְּחוּ וִיפָאֲרוּ, וִירוֹמְמוּ וְיַעֲרִֽיצוּ, וְיַקְדִּֽישׁוּ וְיַמְלִֽיכוּ אֶת שִׁמְךָ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ. כִּי לְךָ טוֹב לְהוֹדוֹת, וּלְשִׁמְךָ נָאֶה לְזַמֵּר, כִּי מֵעוֹלָם וְעַד עוֹלָם אַתָּה אֵל.
When saying Half Hallel, only the chazzan concludes the blessing with the following: congregation responds Amen as indicated, having in mind that the chazzan is reciting the blessing on their behalf.
Blessed are You Lord, King who is extolled with praises. Cong. Amen.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מֶֽלֶךְ מְהֻלָּל בַּתִּשְׁבָּחוֹת:
On Sukkot, Hoshanot are recited at this point.
On Rosh Chodesh it is customary to say the following paragraph three times.
And Abraham was old, advanced in years, and the Lord blessed Abraham in all things. May Zevadyah protect me and grant me life. So may it be Your will, living God and eternal King, in whose hand is the soul of every living thing. Amen.
וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים וַייָ בֵּרַךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל: זבדיה יִשְׁמְרֵנִי וִיחַיֵנִי כֵּן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ אֱלֹהִים חַיִים וּמֶלֶךְ עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ נֶפֶשׁ כָּל חָי. אָמֵן.
On chanukah, the chazan recites half kadish. On rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed, the chazan recites full kaddish.
On Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed, continue with the Song of the Day. On Chanukah continue with (Torah reading followed by) Ashrei.
