Yemenite Jews observing Tashlich in Tel Aviv, 1926. (Shimon Korbman/Wikimedia)

Text of Tashlich

This prayer is traditionally recited on Rosh Hashanah by a flowing body of water.

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The following is the text of the Tashlich prayer, in which a person’s sins are symbolically cast into a flowing body of water.

מִי אֵל כָּמֽוֹךָ

mee ehl kamochah

Who is an Almighty like You

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נֹשֵׂא עָו‍ֹן

no-say ah-vone

Forbearer of iniquity,

וְעֹבֵר עַל פֶּֽשַׁע

vih-ovaire ahl peh-shah

and forgiver of transgression

לִשְׁאֵרִית נַחֲלָתוֹ

lish-ay-reet nah-cha-lah-toe

for the remnant of His heritage?

לֹא הֶחֱזִיק לָעַד אַפּוֹ

loh heh-cheh-zeek lah-ahd ah-poe

He does not maintain His wrath forever,

כִּי חָפֵץ חֶֽסֶד הוּא

kee chah-faitz cheh-sed hoo

for He desires to do kindness.

יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵֽנוּ

yah-shoov y’rachamaynoo

He will again show us compassion,

יִכְבּשׁ עֲו‍ֹנֹתֵֽינוּ

yich-boshe ah-voe-no-tay-noo

He will suppress our iniquities

וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בִמְצֻלוֹת יָם

vih-tash-leech bim’tzoolote yahm

and You will cast into the depths of the sea

כָּל־חַטֹּאתָם

kole chah-toe-tahm

all their sins.

תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת לְיַעֲקֹב

tee-tain ehmet l’yah-kove

You will grant truth to Yaakov,

חֶֽסֶד לְאַבְרָהָם

cheh-sed l’ahvraham

kindness to Avraham,

אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּֽעְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ

ah-share nish-bah-tah la’avotaynoo

as You swore to our fathers

מִימֵי קֶֽדֶם

mee-may keh-dem

from the days of old.

מִן הַמֵּצַר

min ha-may-tzahr

From the narrowness [of distress]

קָרָאתִי יָהּ

kah-rah-tee yah

I called [to] God;

עָנָנִי

ah-nah-nee

He answered me

בַּמֶּרְחָב יָהּ

bah-mare-chahv yah

with the breadth of Divine relief.

יְהֹוָה לִי לֹא אִירָא

ah-do-nay lee loh eeh-rah

Adonoy is with me, I will not fear,

מַה יַעֲשֶׂה לִי אָדָם:

mah ya’ah-seh lee ah-dahm

what can man do to me?

יְהֹוָה לִי בְּעוֹזְרָי

ah-doe-nay lee b’oze-ray

Adonoy is with me, to help me,

וַאֲנִי אֶרְאֶה בְּשׂוֹנְאָי

vah-ah-nee ehr-eh b’sone-eye

and I will see my enemies’ [defeat].

טוֹב לַחֲסוֹת בַּיהֹוָה

tove lah-chah-sote bah-doe-nay

It is better to take refuge in Adonoy

מִבְּטֹֽחַ בָּאָדָם:

meeb’toe-ach bah-ah-dahm

than to trust in man.

טוֹב לַחֲסוֹת בַּיהֹוָה

tove lah-chah-sote bah-doe-nay

It is better to take refuge in Adonoy

מִבְּטֹֽחַ בִּנְדִיבִים

meeb’toe-ach bin’dee-veem

than to trust in nobles.

רַנְּנוּ

rah-nih-noo

Joyfully exult

צַדִּיקִים בַּיהֹוָה.

tzah-dee-keem bah-doe-nay

in Adonoy, [you] righteous ones,

לַיְשָׁרִים נָאוָה תְּהִלָּה:

lah-y’shah-reem nah-vah t’hee-lah

for the upright, praise is fitting.

הוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה בְּכִנּוֹר.

hoe-doo lah-doe-nay bih-chee-nore

Thank Adonoy with the harp,

בְּנֵֽבֶל עָשׂוֹר זַמְּרוּ־לוֹ

bah-neh-vell ah-sore zahm-roo loh

with the ten-stringed lyre sing to Him.

שִֽׁירוּ־לוֹ שִׁיר חָדָשׁ

shee-roo loh sheer chah-dahsh

Sing Him a new song,

הֵיטִֽיבוּ נַגֵּן בִּתְרוּעָה

hay-tee-voo nah-gain bih-t’roo-ah

play skillfully with jubilation.

כִּי־יָשָׁר דְּבַר־יְהֹוָה

kee yah-shahr d’vahr ah-doe-nay

For upright is the word of Adonoy,

וְכָל־מַעֲשֵֽׂהוּ בֶּאֱמוּנָה

vih-chole mah-ah-say-hoo beh-eh-moo-nah

and all His deeds [are done] with faithfulness.

אֹהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט

oh-hayve tzih-dah-kah ooh-mish-paht

He loves righteousness and justice,

חֶֽסֶד יְהֹוָה מָלְאָה הָאָֽרֶץ

cheh-said ah-doe-nay mahl-ah ha’ah-retz

the kindliness of Adonoy fills the earth.

בִּדְבַר יְהֹוָה שָׁמַֽיִם נַעֲשׂוּ

bid’vahr ah-doe-nay shah-mah-yim nah-ah-soo

By the word of God, the heavens were made,

וּבְרֽוּחַ פִּיו

oov’roo-ach peeve

and by the breath of His mouth,

כָּל־צְבָאָם

kole tz’vah-ahm

all their hosts.

כֹּנֵס כַּנֵּד מֵי הַיָּם

koe-naiss kah-naiss may hah-yahm

He gathers like a mound the waters of the sea,

נֹתֵן בְּאוֹצָרוֹת תְּהוֹמוֹת

noe-tayn b’otzarote t’hoe-mote

He places in vaults the deep waters.

יִירְאוּ מֵיְהֹוָה כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ

yeer-ooh may-ah-doe-nay kole ha’ah-retz

Fear Adonoy, all the earth,

מִמֶּֽנּוּ יָגֽוּרוּ

mee-meh-noo yah-goo-roo

of Him, be frightened

כָּל־ישְׁבֵי תֵבֵל

kole yoshe-vay tay-vell

all dwellers of the inhabited world.

כִּי הוּא אָמַר וַיֶּֽהִי

kee hoo ah-mahr vah-yih-hee

For He spoke and it became;

הוּא־צִוָּה וַיַּעֲמֹד

hoo tzee-vah vah-yah-ah-mode

He commanded and it stood.

יְהֹוָה הֵפִיר עֲצַת־גּוֹיִם

ah-doe-nay hay-feer ah-tzaht go-yeem

Adonoy annuls the counsel of nations,

הֵנִיא מַחְשְׁבוֹת עַמִּים

hay-nee mahch-shi-vote ah-meem

He disrupts the intention of peoples.

עֲצַת יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם תַּעֲמֹד

ah-tzaht ah-doe-nay lah-oh-lahm tah-ah-mode

The counsel of Adonoy will stand forever,

מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבּוֹ

mach-shih-vote lee-bow

the thoughts of His heart

לְדֹר וָדֹר

lih-dore vah-dore

throughout all generations.

אַשְׁרֵי הַגּוֹי

ash-ray hah-goy

Fortunate is the nation

אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו

ah-share ah-doe-nay eh-loh-hahv

for whom Adonoy is their God,

הָעָם בָּחַר לְנַֽחֲלָה לוֹ

hah-ahm bah-chahr lih-nah-chah-lah-toe lo

the people He chose as His heritage.

מִשָּׁמַֽיִם הִבִּיט יְהֹוָה

mee-shah-mah-yeem hay-beet ah-doe-nay

From the heavens, Adonoy looks [down],

רָאָה אֶת־כָּל־בְּנֵי הָאָדָם

rah-ah eht kole bih-nay hah-ah-dahm

He sees all mankind.

מִמְּכוֹן־שִׁבְתּוֹ

meem-chone sheeve-toe

From His dwelling place,

הִשְׁגִּֽיחַ

heese-gee-ach

He watches intently

אֶל כָּל־ישְׁבֵי הָאָֽרֶץ

ehl kole yoshe-vay hah-ah-retz

all the inhabitants of the earth.

הַיֹּצֵר יַֽחַד לִבָּם

hah-yoe-tzare yah-chahd lee-bahm

He forms their hearts all together;

הַמֵּבִין אֶל־כָּל־מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם

hah-may-veen ehl kole mah-ah-say-hem

He perceives all their doings.

אֵין הַמֶּֽלֶךְ נוֹשָׁע בְּרָב־חָֽיִל

ayn hah-meh-lech no-sah bih-rahv chah-yeel

A king is not saved by a great army;

גִבּוֹר לֹא־יִנָּצֵל

gee-bore loh yee-nah-tzail

a mighty man is not rescued

בְּרָב־כֹּֽחַ

bih-rahv koe-ach

with [his] great strength.

שֶֽׁקֶר הַסּוּס

sheh-kehr hah-soose

A horse is deceptive [assurance]

לִתְשׁוּעָה

lih-t’shoo-ah

for deliverance,

וּבְרֹב חֵילוֹ

ooh-vih-rahv chay-lo

and with its great strength

לֹא יְמַלֵּט

lo yee-mah-late

it provides no escape.

הִנֵּה עֵין יְהֹוָה

hee-nay ayn ah-doe-nay

Behold, the eye of Adonoy

אֶל־יְרֵאָיו

ehl yih-ray-ahv

is on those who fear Him,

לַמְיַחֲלִים לְחַסְדּוֹ

lahm-yah-chah-leem lih-chahss-doe

on those who wait for His kindliness.

לְהַצִּיל מִמָּֽוֶת נַפְשָׁם

lih-hah-tzeel mee-mah-vett nahf-shahm

To rescue their soul from death,

וּלְחַיּוֹתָם בָּרָעָב

ooh-lih-chah-yoe-tahm big-rah-ahv

and to keep them alive during famine.

נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ חִכְּתָה לַיהֹוָה

nahf-shay-noo cheek’tah lah-ah-doe-nay

Our soul yearned for Adonoy,

עֶזְרֵֽנוּ וּמָגִנֵּֽנוּ הוּא

ezz-ray-noo ooh-mah-gee-nay-noo hoo

our help and our shield is He.

כִּי־בוֹ יִשְׂמַח לִבֵּֽנוּ

kee voh yiss-mahch lee-bay-noo

For in Him our heart will rejoice,

כִּי בְשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ בָטָֽחְנוּ

kee vih-shame kahd-show bah-tahch-noo

for in His Holy Name we trust.

יְהִי־חַסְדְּךָ יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ

yih-hee chahss-doe ah-doe-nay ah-lay-noo

May your kindliness, Adonoy, be upon us,

כַּאֲשֶׁר יִחַֽלְנוּ לָךְ

kah-ah-share yee-chahl-noo lahch

as we have waited for You.

וִיהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ

vee-hee rah-tzone meel-fah-neh-chah

May it be Your will

יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי

ah-doe-nay eh-loh-hi veh-loh-hay ah-voh-tie

Adonoy, our God, and God of our fathers,

אֵל עֶלְיוֹן

ell ehl-yone

most High Almighty

מֻכְתָּר

mooch-tahr

Who is crowned

בִּתְלֵיסַר מְכִילִין דְּרַחֲמֵי.

bit-lay-sahr mih-chee-leen dih-rah-chah-may

with thirteen attributes of mercy,

שֶׁתְּהֵא שָׁעָה זוֹ עֵת רָצוֹן לְפָנֶֽיךָ

shet-hay shah-ah zoe ate rah-tzone lih-fah-neh-chah

that this be a time of favor before You,

וְתִהְיֶה עוֹלָה לְפָנֶֽיךָ

vit-hay voh-lah lih-fah-neh-chah

and may it ascend before You

קְרִיאַת שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדּוֹת

k’ree-aht sh’loshe ess-ray mee-dote

our recitation of the Thirteen Attributes

שֶׁל רַחֲמִים, שֶׁבִּפְסוּקִים

shel rah-chah-meem she-biff-soo-keem

of mercy, [which are contained in the verses:

מִי אֵל כָּמֽוֹךָ

mee ell kah-moe-chah

“Who is an Almighty like You”

הַמְּכֻוָּנִים

hah-mih-choo-vah-neem

which correspond

אֶל שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדּוֹת

ell shih-loshe ess-ray mee-dote

to the Thirteen Attributes,

אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן וְגו’,

ell rah-choom vih-chah-noon

“Almighty, Merciful, Gracious etc.,”

אֲשֶׁר קָרִֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ

ah-share kah-ree-noo lih-fah-neh-chah

that we have recited before You.

כְּאִלּוּ הִשַּֽׂגְנוּ

kih-ee-loo hee-sahg-noo

Consider it as if we had comprehended

כָּל הַסּוֹדוֹת

kole hah-soe-dote

all the esoteric meanings

וְצֵרוּפֵי שֵׁמוֹת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים

vih-tzay-roo-fay shay-mote hah-kih-doe-sheem

and the combinations of the Holy Names

הַיּוֹצְאִים מֵהֶם

hah-yoe-tzeem may-hem

that are formed from them.

וְזִוּוּגֵי מִדּוֹתֵיהֶם

vih-zoo-gay mee-doe-tay-hem

And the joining of their attributes,

אֲשֶׁר אֶחָד בְּאֶחָד יִגָּֽשׁוּ

ah-share eh-chahd bih-eh-chahd yee-sah-goo

which, one by one, shall approach [You]

לְהַמְתִּיק הַדִּינִים תַּקִּיפִים

lih-homm-teek hah-dee-neem tah-kee-feem

to sweeten the severe judgments.

וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בִּמְצוּלוֹת יָם

vih-tahsh-leech bim-tzoo-lote yahm

And so, cast into the depths of the sea

כָּל־חַטֹּאתֵֽינוּ.

kole chah-toe-tay-noo

all our sins.

וְאַתָּה בְּטוּבְךָ

vih-ah-tah bih-toove-chah

And You, with Your goodness,

תְּעוֹרֵר רַחֲמֶֽיךָ

tih-oh-rare rah-chah-meh-chah

arouse Your mercy,

וְנִהְיֶה נְקִיִּים

vih-nee-yeh nih-kee-yeem

that we may be cleansed

מִכָּל־טֻמְאָה וְחֶלְאָה וְזוּהֲמָא.

mee-kole toom-ah vih-chell-ah vih-zoo-hah-mah

from all forms of impurity.

וְיַעֲלוּ

vih-yah-ah-loo

And may there ascend [before You]

כָּל־נִצּוֹצֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה

kole-nee-tzoo-tzay hah-kih-doo-shah

all the sparks of holiness

אֲשֶׁר נִתְפַּזְרוּ

ah-share nitt-pah-z’roo

which have been scattered.

וְיִתְבַּרְרוּ וְיִתְלַבְּנוּ

vih-yeet-bah-r’roo vih-yeet-lob-noo

And may we be refined and purified

בְּמִדַּת טוּבְךָ

bih-mee-daht toov-chah

through Your goodness.

אַתָּה אֵל יְשׁוּעָתֵֽנוּ

ah-tah ell yih-sho-ah-tay-noo

You Almighty, are our deliverance,

נוֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד

no-tzair cheh-sed

the Keeper of kindness

לָאֲלָפִים,

lah-ah-lah-feem

for thousands [of generations.]

וּבְרֹב רַחֲמֶֽיךָ

ooh-vih-rove rah-chah-meh-chah

And with Your abundant compassion

תִּתֵּן לָֽנוּ חַיִים אֲרוּכִים.

tee-tain lah-noo chah-yeem ah-roo-cheem

grant us long life,

חַיִּים שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם

chah-yeem shel shah-lome

a life of peace,

חַיִּים שֶׁל טוֹבָה

chah-yeem shel toe-vah

a life of goodness,

חַיִּים שֶׁל בְּרָכָה

chah-yeem shel brah-chah

a life of blessing,

חַיִּים שֶׁל פַּרְנָסָה טוֹבָה

chah-yeem shel pahr-nah-sah toe-vah

a life of good sustenance,

חַיִּים שֶׁל חִלּוּץ עֲצָמוֹת

chah-yeem shel chee-lootz ah-tzah-mote

a life of bodily vigor,

חַיִּים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם

chah-yeem sheh-yaysh bah-hem

a life in which there is

יִרְאַת שָׁמַֽיִם וְיִרְאַת חֵטְא,

yeer-aht shah-mah-yeem vih-yeer-aht chayt

fear of Heaven and fear of sin,

חַיִּים שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם

chah-yeem sheh-ain bah-hem

a life in which there is no

בּוּשָׁה וּכְלִמָּה

boo-shah ooh-ch’leemah

shame or disgrace,

חַיִּים שֶׁל עֽשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד

chah-yeem shel oh-share vih-chah-vode

a life of prosperity and honor,

לַעֲבוֹדָתֶֽךָ

lah-ah-voe-dah-teh-chah

in order that we may serve You,

חַיִּים שֶׁתְּהֵא בָֽנוּ

chah-yeem sheh-t’hay bah-noo

a life in which there will be within us

אַהֲבַת תּוֹרָה וְיִרְאַת שָׁמַֽיִם

ah-hah-vaht toe-rah vih-yeer-aht shah-mah-yeem

love of Torah and fear of Heaven,

חַיִּים

chah-yeem

a life [in which]

שֶׁתְמַלֵּא כָּל מִשְׁאֲלוֹת לִבֵּֽנוּ

sheh-tih-mah-lay kole mish-ah-lote lee-bay-noo

You will fulfill the wishes of our hearts

לְטוֹבָה

lih-toe-vah

for goodness.

וְזָכְרֵֽנוּ לְחַיִּים

vih-zahch-ray-noo lih-chah-yeem

And remember us for life

מֶֽלֶךְ חָפֵץ בַּחַיִּים

meh-lech chah-faitz

O King, Who desires life,

וְכָּתְבֵֽנוּ בְּסֵֽפֶר הַחַיִּים

vih-kott-vay-noo bih-say-fair

and inscribe us in the Book of Life,

לְמַעֲנְךָ אֱלֹהִים חַיִּים

lih-mah-ahn-chah eh-loh-heem chah-yeem

for Your sake, Living God.

וּקְרַע רֹֽעַ גְּזַר דִּינֵנוּ

ooh-kih-rah roe-ah gih-zahr dee-nay-noo

And tear up the evil [parts] of our sentence,

וְיִקָּרְאוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ זָכִיּוֹתֵֽינוּ

vih-yee-kah-ray-noo lih-fah-neh-chah zah-chee-yoe-tay-noo

and may our merits be stated before You.

Hebrew and English text taken from The Metsudah Machzor, via Sefaria.

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