Starting the day

אֱלֹהַי נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַֽתָּ בִּי טְהוֹרָה הִיא אַתָּה בְרָאתָהּ אַתָּה יְצַרְתָּהּ אַתָּה נְפַחְתָּהּ בִּי וְאַתָּה מְשַׁמְּ֒רָהּ בְּקִרְבִּי וְאַתָּה עָתִיד לִטְּ֒לָהּ מִמֶּֽנִּי וּלְהַחֲזִירָהּ בִּי לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהַנְּ֒שָׁמָה בְקִרְבִּי מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתַי רִבּוֹן כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים אֲדוֹן כָּל הַנְּ֒שָׁמוֹת: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַמַּחֲזִיר נְשָׁמוֹת לִפְגָרִים מֵתִים:

My God! the soul which You bestowed in me is pure; You created it, You formed it, You breathed it into me and You preserve it within me. You will eventually take it from me, and restore it in me in the time to come. So long as the soul is within me I give thanks to You, Adonoy my God, and God of my fathers, Lord of all creatures, Master of all souls. Blessed are You, Adonoy, Who restores souls to dead bodies.

יְֽהֹוָ֗ה בֹּ֭קֶר תִּשְׁמַ֣ע קוֹלִ֑י בֹּ֥קֶר אֶעֱרׇךְ־לְ֝ךָ֗ וַאֲצַפֶּֽה׃

O LORD, in the morning shalt Thou hear my voice; In the morning will I order my prayer unto Thee, and will look forward.

וְגַם בְּשָׁכְבוֹ עַל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ, יֵדַע לִפְנֵי מִי הוּא שׁוֹכֵב. וּמִיָּד כְּשֶׁיֵּעוֹר מִשְּׁנָתוֹ יִזְכֹּר חַסְדֵי ה', יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה עִמּוֹ שֶׁהֶחֱזִיר לוֹ אֶת נִשְׁמָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר הִפְקִידָהּ אֶצְלוֹ עֲיֵפָה, וְהֶחֱזִירָהּ לוֹ חֲדָשָׁה וּרְגוּעָה כְּדֵי לַעֲבֹד עֲבוֹדָתוֹ יִתְבָרַךְ שְׁמוֹ בְּכָל יְכָלְתּוֹ וּלְשָׁרְתוֹ כָּל הַיּוֹם, כִּי זֶה כָּל הָאָדָם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב, חֲדָשִׁים לַבְּקָרִים רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ, פֵּרוּשׁ, בְּכָל בֹּקֶר נַעֲשֶׂה הָאָדָם בְּרִיָּה חֲדָשָׁה. וְיוֹדֶה בְּכָל בֹּקֶר לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ עַל זֹאת. וּבְעוֹדוֹ עַל מִשְׁכָּבוֹ, יֹאמַר, מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ (וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעֲדַיִן אֵין יָדָיו נְקִיּוֹת, יָכוֹל לוֹמַר זֹאת, כֵּיוָן שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ שֵׁם). וְיַפְסִיק מְעַט בֵּין תֵּבַת בְּחֶמְלָה לְתֵבַת רַבָּה (שם ובמגן אברהם ויד אפרים סוֹף סִימָן ד).

Also, while lying in bed you should realize before Whom you lay and as soon as you awaken you should remember the kindnesses of Hashem, Blessed be His Name, that were granted to you; that He returned your soul to you. You committed it to Him faint and weary and it was returned to you new and refreshed, enabling you to worship Hashem, Blessed be His Name, with all of your capacity and serve Him the entire day; because this is the essence of Man, as it is said in Scripture: "They are new every morning how great is Your faithfulness." This verse teaches that every morning a person becomes a new creation, and he should give thanks with all his heart to Hashem, Blessed be His Name, for this (good fortune). While still in bed you should recite: I give thanks to You, living and everlasting King for You have restored my soul with mercy. Great is Your faithfulness. (Even though your hands are not yet clean, you may say this, since the name of Hashem is not mentioned.) You should pause slightly between the word chemlah "with mercy," and the word, rabbah "great."

הַשְׁמִ֘יעֵ֤נִי בַבֹּ֨קֶר ׀ חַסְדֶּךָ֮ כִּֽי־בְךָ֢ בָ֫טָ֥חְתִּי הוֹדִיעֵ֗נִי דֶּרֶךְ־ז֥וּ אֵלֵ֑ךְ כִּי־אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ נָשָׂ֥אתִי נַפְשִֽׁי׃

Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning, For in Thee do I trust; Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, For unto Thee have I lifted up my soul.

כִּי שָׁמַע קוֹל תַּרְנְגוֹלָא, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לַשֶּׂכְוִי בִּינָה לְהַבְחִין בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָיְלָה״. כִּי פָּתַח עֵינֵיהּ, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … פּוֹקֵחַ עִוְּרִים״. כִּי תָּרֵיץ וְיָתֵיב, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים״. כִּי לָבֵישׁ, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … מַלְבִּישׁ עֲרוּמִּים״. כִּי זָקֵיף, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … זוֹקֵף כְּפוּפִים״. כִּי נָחֵית לְאַרְעָא, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … רוֹקַע הָאָרֶץ עַל הַמָּיִם״. כִּי מְסַגֵּי, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … הַמֵּכִין מִצְעֲדֵי גָבֶר״. כִּי סַיֵּים מְסָאנֵיהּ, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … שֶׁעָשָׂה לִי כׇּל צׇרְכִּי״. כִּי אָסַר הֶמְיָינֵיהּ, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … אוֹזֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּגְבוּרָה״. כִּי פָּרֵיס סוּדָרָא עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, לֵימָא: ״בָּרוּךְ … עוֹטֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתִפְאָרָה״.

When he hears the cry of the cock let him say : "Blessed...Who hast given the cock intelligence to distinguish between day and night. " When he opens his eyes let him say: "Blessed... Who openest the eyes of the blind." When he straightens himself and sits up let him say : "Blessed...Who loosest them that are bound." When he has clothed himself let him say : "Blessed... Who clothest the naked." When he raises himself let him say : "Blessed... Who raisest up them that are bowed down." When he descends [from the bed] to the ground let him say: "Blessed... Who spreadest forth the earth above the waters." When he walks let him say : "Blessed... Who hast made firm the steps of man." When he has tied up his shoes let him say: "Blessed... Who hast supplied my every want." When he has fastened his girdle let him say : "Blessed... Who girdest Israel with might." When he spreads the cloth upon his head let him say : "Blessed... Who crownest Israel with glory."

שַׂבְּעֵ֣נוּ בַבֹּ֣קֶר חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וּֽנְרַנְּנָ֥ה וְ֝נִשְׂמְחָ֗ה בְּכׇל־יָמֵֽינוּ׃

O satisfy us in the morning with Thy mercy; That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

שִׁוִיתִי ה' לְנֶגְדִּי תָמִיד, הוּא כְּלָל גָּדוֹל בַּתּוֹרָה וּבְמַעֲלוֹת הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲשֶׁר הוֹלְכִים לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים. כִּי אֵין יְשִׁיבַת הָאָדָם תְּנוּעָתוֹ וַעֲסָקָיו וְהוּא לְבַדּוֹ בְּבֵיתוֹ, כְּמוֹ יְשִׁיבָתוֹ וּתְנוּעָתוֹ וַעֲסָקָיו כַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ גָּדוֹל. וְכֵן אֵין דִּבּוּרוֹ וְהַרְחָבַת פִּיו בִּהְיוֹתוֹ עִם אַנְשֵׁי בֵיתוֹ וּקְרוֹבָיו, כְּמוֹ בִהְיוֹתוֹ בְּמוֹשַׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ, כִּי אָז מַשְׁגִּיחַ בְּוַדַּאי עַל כָּל תְּנוּעוֹתָיו וְדִבּוּרָיו שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מְתֻקָּנִים כָּרָאוּי. כָּל שֶׁכֵּן כַּאֲשֶׁר יָשִׂים הָאָדָם אֶל לִבּוֹ כִּי הַמֶּלֶךְ הַגָּדוֹל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֲשֶׁר מְלֹא כָל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ עוֹמֵד עָלָיו וְרוֹאֶה בְמַעֲשָׂיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, אִם יִסָּתֵר אִישׁ בַּמִּסְתָּרִים וַאֲנִי לֹא אֶרְאֶנּוּ נְאֻם ה', הֲלוֹא אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲנִי מָלֵא, בְּוַדַּאי מִיָּד תַּגִּיעַ אֵלָיו הַיִּרְאָה וְהַהַכְנָעָה מִפַּחַד הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיֵבוֹשׁ מִמֶנּוּ (אוֹרַח חַיִּים סָעִיף א).

"I have set Hashem before me always." This is a fundamental rule of the Torah and of the attributes of the righteous who walk before God. For we cannot compare a person's lifestyle, his activities and affairs when he is alone, to his lifestyle, and activities and affairs when he is before a great king. Similarly, his conversation and speech when he is amongst family or relatives, [cannot be compared] to what they would be in the presence of a king, because then he would certainly take special care that all his activities and conversations be refined and correct. How much more so when you contemplate that Hashem, the greatest of kings, the Holy One, blessed is He, Whose glory fills the entire world, stands above you and views your actions, as it is said: "If a person will hide in hidden places will I not see him? Says the word of Hashem, Do I not fill the heavens and the earth!" [Bearing this in mind] it is certain that you will immediately acquire a feeling of reverence and submissiveness for the awesomeness of Hashem, Blessed be He, and be ashamed [to sin] before Him.

זֶה־הַ֭יּוֹם עָשָׂ֣ה יְהֹוָ֑ה נָגִ֖ילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָ֣ה בֽוֹ׃

This is the day which the LORD hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶת־הָאָדָם בְּחָכְמָה וּבָֽרָא בוֹ נְקָבִים נְקָבִים חֲלוּלִים חֲלוּלִים גָּלוּי וְיָדֽוּעַ לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶֽךָ שֶׁאִם יִפָּתֵֽחַ אֶחָד מֵהֶם אוֹ יִסָּתֵם אֶחָד מֵהֶם אִי אֶפְשַׁר לְהִתְקַיֵּם וְלַעֲמֹד לְפָנֶֽיךָ אֲפִילוּ שָׁעָה אֶחָת. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה רוֹפֵא כָל־בָּשָׂר וּמַפְלִיא לַעֲשׂוֹת:

Praised are You, Lord our God King of the universe, who with wisdom fashioned the human body, creating openings and organs. It is known before your exalted Throne that should but one of them, by being blocked or opened, fail to function, it would be impossible to exist. Praised are you, Lord, healer of all flesh who performs wonders.

וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ אָשִׁ֣יר עֻזֶּךָ֮ וַאֲרַנֵּ֥ן לַבֹּ֗קֶר חַ֫סְדֶּ֥ךָ כִּֽי־הָיִ֣יתָ מִשְׂגָּ֣ב לִ֑י וּ֝מָנ֗וֹס בְּי֣וֹם צַר־לִֽי׃

But as for me, I will sing of Thy strength; yea, I will sing aloud of Thy mercy in the morning; for Thou hast been my high tower, and a refuge in the day of my distress.

יְהוּדָה בֶן תֵּימָא אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי עַז כַּנָּמֵר וְקַל כַּנֶּשֶׁר, רָץ כַּצְּבִי וְגִבּוֹר כָּאֲרִי לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן אָבִיךָ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם. עַז כַּנָּמֵר, פֵּרוּשׁוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם הַמַּלְעִיגִים עָלָיו בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה' יִתְבָּרַךְ שְׁמוֹ. קַל כַּנֶּשֶׁר, כְּנֶגֶד רְאוֹת הָעָיִן. לוֹמַר שֶׁתְּהֵא קַל לַעֲצֹם עֵינֶיךָ מֵרְאוֹת בְּרָע, כִּי הוּא הַתְחָלַת הָעֲבֵרָה, הָעַיִן רוֹאָה, וְהַלֵּב חוֹמֵד, וּכְלֵי מַעֲשֶׂה גּוֹמְרִים. רָץ כַּצְּבִי, כְּנֶגֶד הָרַגְלַיִם, שֶׁרַגְלֶיךָ לְטוֹב יָרוּצוּ. וְגִבּוֹר כָּאֲרִי, כְּנֶגֶד הַלֵּב, כִּי הַגְּבוּרָה בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרַךְ, הִיא בַּלֵּב. וְאָמַר שֶׁתְּחַזֵּק לִבְּךָ בַּעֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְתִתְגַּבֵּר עַל הַיֵּצֶר לְנַצְּחוֹ כְּגִבּוֹר הַמִּתְגַּבֵּר עַל שׂוֹנְאוֹ לְנַצְּחוֹ וּלְהַפִּילוֹ לָאָרֶץ (אוֹרַח חַיִּים סִימָן א).

Yehudah son of Taima says: "Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in heaven." "Bold as a leopard" means, you should not be ashamed before people who mock you for worshipping Hashem, Blessed be His Name. "Light as an eagle" refers to what the eye sees. This alludes to the requirement to be swift to close your eyes to prevent the seeing of evil because the sight of evil constitutes the beginning of sin. The eye sees and the heart desires and the organs capable of action culminate the sin. "Swift as a deer" refers to the legs, for your legs should run to do good things. "Strong as a lion" is a reference to the heart, because true valor in serving the Creator, Blessed is He, emanates from the heart. He also states: "Strengthen your heart to serve Him, and overpower your evil inclination and defeat it as a hero triumphs over his enemy, defeating him, and casting him to the earth."