Hebrew, transliteration & translation
Part 1 of 5עָלֵינוּ לְשַׁבֵּחַ לַאֲדוֹן הַכֹּל לָתֵת גְּדֻלָּה לְיוֹצֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂנוּ כְּגוֹיֵי הָאֲרָצוֹת וְלֹא שָׂמָנוּ כְּמִשְׁפְּחוֹת הָאֲדָמָה שֶׁלֹּא שָׂם חֶלְקֵנוּ כָּהֶם וְגֹרָלֵנוּ כְּכָל הֲמוֹנָם
Aleinu l'shabei'ach la'Adon hakol, lateit g'dulah l'Yotzeir b'reishit, shelo asanu k'goyei ha'aratzot, v'lo samanu k'mishp'chot ha'adamah, shelo sam chelkeinu kahem v'goraleinu k'chol hamonam
It is upon us to praise the Master of all, to ascribe greatness to the Creator of the world, Who has not made us like the nations of the lands, and has not placed us like the families of the earth; Who has not assigned our portion like theirs, nor our lot like all their multitudes
The first paragraph declares our unique relationship with Hashem.
Part 2 of 5וַאֲנַחְנוּ כּוֹרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים וּמוֹדִים לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
Va'anachnu kor'im u'mishtachavim u'modim lifnei Melech Malchei Ham'lachim, HaKadosh Baruch Hu
And we bow and prostrate and give thanks before the King of Kings of Kings, the Holy One, blessed is He
We bow during these words. Some communities fully bow (kneel), others bow from the waist.
Part 3 of 5שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֶה שָׁמַיִם וְיוֹסֵד אָרֶץ וּמוֹשַׁב יְקָרוֹ בַּשָּׁמַיִם מִמַּעַל וּשְׁכִינַת עֻזּוֹ בְּגָבְהֵי מְרוֹמִים. הוּא אֱלֹקֵינוּ אֵין עוֹד. אֱמֶת מַלְכֵּנוּ אֶפֶס זוּלָתוֹ
Shehu noteh shamayim v'yoseid aretz, u'moshav y'karo bashamayim mima'al, ush'chinat uzo b'govhei m'romim. Hu Elokeinu ein od. Emet Malkeinu efes zulato
Who stretches out the heavens and establishes the earth, Whose seat of glory is in the heavens above, and Whose powerful Presence is in the loftiest heights. He is our God, there is no other. True is our King, there is nothing besides Him.
A powerful affirmation that Hashem alone is God.
Part 4 of 5עַל כֵּן נְקַוֶּה לְּךָ ה׳ אֱלֹקֵינוּ לִרְאוֹת מְהֵרָה בְּתִפְאֶרֶת עֻזֶּךָ לְהַעֲבִיר גִּלּוּלִים מִן הָאָרֶץ וְהָאֱלִילִים כָּרוֹת יִכָּרֵתוּן לְתַקֵּן עוֹלָם בְּמַלְכוּת שַׁדַּי וְכָל בְּנֵי בָשָׂר יִקְרְאוּ בִשְׁמֶךָ
Al kein n'kaveh l'cha Adonai Elokeinu lirot m'heirah b'tiferet uzecha, l'ha'avir gilulim min ha'aretz, v'ha'elilim karot yikareitun, l'takein olam b'malchut Shakai, v'chol b'nei vasar yikr'u vishmecha
Therefore we put our hope in You, Lord our God, to soon see the glory of Your strength, to remove idols from the earth and false gods will be utterly cut off; to perfect the world through the Almighty's kingdom, and all humanity will call upon Your Name
The second paragraph — our hope for the future. "L'takein olam" (to perfect the world) is the source of the concept of "Tikkun Olam."
Part 5 of 5כִּי לְךָ תִּכְרַע כָּל בֶּרֶךְ תִּשָּׁבַע כָּל לָשׁוֹן. לְפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹקֵינוּ יִכְרְעוּ וְיִפֹּלוּ וְלִכְבוֹד שִׁמְךָ יְקָר יִתֵּנוּ. וִיקַבְּלוּ כֻלָּם אֶת עֹל מַלְכוּתֶךָ וְתִמְלוֹךְ עֲלֵיהֶם מְהֵרָה לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד. כִּי הַמַּלְכוּת שֶׁלְּךָ הִיא וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עַד תִּמְלוֹךְ בְּכָבוֹד
Ki l'cha tichra kol berech, tishava kol lashon. L'fanecha Adonai Elokeinu yichr'u v'yipolu, v'lichvod shimcha y'kar yiteinu. Vikab'lu chulam et ol malchutecha, v'timloch aleihem m'heirah l'olam va'ed. Ki hamalchut shel'cha hi, ul'olmei ad timloch b'chavod
For to You every knee will bow, every tongue will swear. Before You, Lord our God, they will bow and fall, and to the glory of Your Name give honor. And they will all accept the yoke of Your kingdom, and You will reign over them speedily forever. For the kingdom is Yours, and for eternity You will reign in glory.
The conclusion of Aleinu — a vision of universal recognition of God's sovereignty.