Ten Declarations of Faith in One G-d,

 
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By the grace of G-d 
Free translation copyright © 2022 Nathaniel Segal 

"Master of the World" — Adon Olam Poem (ah DOHN oh LAHM)

Notes:

* Ten Declarations of Faith - This devotion rhymes in the Hebrew original, with every line rhyming with all the others.

* Some attribute this poem to the Spanish-Jewish poet and philosopher, Rabbi Solomon ibn Gabirol (1021-1058).

* Master of the world - The translations that I've seen render the Hebrew as "Sovereign of the world," "Sovereign of the universe," "L-rd of the world," or "L-rd of the universe.  But, the Hebrew word adon is a simple expression used everywhere for "master" and "lord" as in the master of a slave or as an honorific for addressing another person.  I have chosen "master" to convey the idea that we are all G-d's servants or slaves.

* world - Ordinarily the Hebrew word olam means "world."  However, very often it means "forever."  Rabbi David de Sola Pool (below) translates it this way, "Eternal Master."

* I've translated this poem into ordinary English.  Compare this with other formal, even archaic, translations; specifically that from Rabbi Nissen Mangel (Siddur Tehillat Hashem Nusach Ha-Ari Zal: According to the Text of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. Emended Hebrew Edition with an English Translation. Brooklyn, New York: Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, 1978) and that from Dr. Joseph H. Hertz, the late Chief Rabbi of the British Empire (The Authorised Daily Prayer Book. Revised Edition. New York: Bloch Publishing Company, 1955.)  Instead of translating this devotion himself, Rabbi Hertz presents a rhyming rendition from Israel Zangwill (1864-1926).  I consulted another prayer book with a formal and archaic English translation by Dr. A. Th. Philips (Daily Prayers with English Translation. Revised Edition. New York: Hebrew Publishing Company, no date.)  Also a prayer book translated by David de Sola Pool (The Traditional Prayer Book for Sabbath and Festivals. Under the  direction of the Rabbinical Council of America. New York: Behrman House, 1960) which is in formal and archaic English.