Ana Adonai Hoshia Na - Resource Page
Ana Adonai Hoshia Na - Resource Page
Ana Adonai Hoshia Na - Resource Page
Psalm 118
About the Piyut
These verses are sung in the Hallel, a prayer of praise and thanksgiving recited on holidays and on the first
day of the month. Th Hallel comprises psalms 114-118, and is referred to as The Egyptian Hallel because its
opening verses relate the story of the Exodus.
The Hallel starts with thanksgiving and continues to praise the one God (as opposed to the more prevalent
paganism). It bestows blessings on different groups and stresses the joy of living and singing. The last part
of the Hallel, where the verses of this Piyut appear, is meant to be recited as a psalmody - the leader
reading one half of the verse and the chorus or congregation responding. It is still sung in this manner in
some congregations, while others repeat verses 21-29, once by the leader and one by the congregation. This
style lends itself to music and indeed there are many tunes for these verses.
Hebrew Text
Ana Adonai hoshia na; ana Adonai hoshia na
: '
: '
: '
: '
English Translation
O Lord, deliver us!
O Lord, deliver us!
O Lord, let us prosper!
O Lord, let us prosper!