This prayer opens with the words of Psalm 51:17. This prayer and the following two prayers are recited while standing and facing toward the East (toward Jerusalem). We begin the prayer by taking three small steps forward and then bowing at the knees and then the waist. Our Sages tell us that we should approach this prayer as we would approach a Ruler (in this case, God) with humility and reverence, thus bowing. We bow again at the end of the prayer as a sign again of respect.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ וְאִמוֹתֵינוּ, אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם, אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק, וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב, אֱלֹהֵי שָׂרָה, אֱלֹהֵי רִבְקָה, אֱלֹהֵי רָחֵל וֵאלֹהֵי לֵאָה. הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא, אֵל עֶלְיוֹן, גּוֹמֵל חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים, וְקוֹנֵה הַכֹּל, וְזוֹכֵר חַסְדֵי אָבוֹת וְאִמָּהוֹת, וּמֵבִיא גְּאֻלָּה לִבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם לְמַעַן שְׁמוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu v’Elohei avoteinu v’imoteinu, Elohei Avraham, Elhei Yitzchak v’Elohei Yaakov, Elohei Sarah, Elohei Rivka, Elohei Rachel v’Elohei Leah. Ha-El hagadol hagibor v’hanora, El elyon, gomeil chasadim tovim, v’koneih hakol, v’zocheir chasdei avot v’imahot, umeivi g’ulah liv’nei v’neihem l’maan sh’mo b’ahavah.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, the God of our fathers and mothers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob; God of Sarah, God of Rebecca, God of Rachel, and God of Leah, the great, mighty, and awesome God who bestows loving kindness, creates everything out love, who remembers the love of our fathers and mothers, and brings redemption to their children’s children for the sake of the Divine Name.
מֶֽלֶךְ עוֹזֵר וּמוֹשִֽׁיעַ וּמָגֵן. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם וְעֶזְרַת שָׂרָה.
Melech ozeir umoshia umagen. Baruch atah, Adonai, magein Averham v’ezrat Sarah.
Sovereign, Deliverer, Helper and Shield, Blessed are You, Adonai, Sarah’s Helper, Abraham’s Shield.