In the 5th century B.C.E., the 120 men of the Great Assembly composed the basic text of the

Amidah. The text was codified after the destruction of the Second Temple, 70 AD. In his commentary on the Psalm 29 in the Ketuvim, Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (Yitzhaki) states, the eighteen uses of His name (יְהֹוָה Y^ehōvâ) are the basis of the shemoneh esreh, the eighteen benedictions.

The Amidah was expanded from eighteen to nineteen blessings in the 2nd century C.E., under the leadership of Rabbi Gamliel the Elder in Yavneh (Rabbi Hayim Donin). The prayer Jesus taught his disciples, The Lord’s Prayer, is most likely an abbreviated version of the Amidah. Rabbi Eliezer, a younger contemporary of Jesus, taught this abbreviation of the Eighteen: May your will be done in heaven above, grant peace of mind to those who fear you [on earth] below, and do what seems best to you. Blessed are you, O LORD, who answers prayer.

A traditional guide to praying the Amidah (standing):

1. Pray standing (Nehemiah 9:2).
2. Pray facing Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:30, 44, 48-49; Psalm 5:7; Daniel 6:10).
3. Pray with your feet together (Ezekiel 1:7).
4. Prepare yourself that there be no hypocrisy between what is spoken with your lips and what is believed in your heart (Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 33:31; Matthew 15:7–9).
5. Pray with a quiet spirit like Hannah who whispered her prayer (1 Samuel 1:12-13; Matt 6:5-8).

Sefatai (My Lips)
אני שְפָתַי תּפְתָּח וּפי יַגּיד תְּהלָּתֶךָ
Adonai sefatai tiftach ufi yagid tehilatecha
Adonai, open up my lips that my mouth may declare Your praise.

(Psalm 19:14; 51:14-15)

1. Avot (Fathers)
בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu velohei avoteinu
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, the God of our fathers.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא אֵל עֶלְיוֹן גּוֹמֵל חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים וְקוֹנֵה הַכֹּל וְזוֹכֵר חַסְדֵי אָבוֹת וּמֵבִיא גוֹאֵל לִבְנֵי בְנֵיהֶם לְמַֽעַן שְׁמוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה:

Blessed are You, O LORD our God and God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, the great, mighty, and awesome God, the most high God, Who bestows grace and creates all, and remembers the kindness of the Fathers, and brings the Redeemer [Yeshuah] to their children’s children, for His name’s sake with love. O King, Helper, Savior, and Shield (Numbers 6:24-26; Job 19:25; Psalm 5:12; 18:2; 121; Isaiah 41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 54:5).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם
Baruch atah Adonai, magen Avraham
Blessed are You, O LORD, Shield of Abraham (2 Corinthians 1:3–7).

2. Gibbor (Might) גִּבֹּ֖ר
You are eternally mighty, the Resurrecter of the dead are You; great in salvation. Who sustains the living with loving-kindness, resurrects the dead with great mercy, supports the fallen, heals the sick, releases the confined, and keeps His faith to those asleep in the dust. Who is like You, O Master of mighty deeds, and who is comparable to You, O King who causes death and restores life and makes salvation sprout? You [resurrected Your Son Yeshuah and You] are faithful to resurrect the dead (Job 19:25; Psalm 68:20; Isaiah 61:1-11; Matthew 11:5; 12:18; Luke 4:16-21; John 3:34; 5:29).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מְחַיֵּה הַמֵתִים
Baruch atah Adonai, mechaiyeh hametim
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who resurrects the dead.

3. Kadesh et HaShem (Holiness of The Name)
You are holy and Your Name is holy, and holy ones praise You every day (Lev 22:2; Psalm 11:7; 71:22; 93:5; 103:1; 111:9; Isaiah 47:4; Matthew 6:9b; Luke 1:49).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הָאֵל הָקָדוֹשׁ
Baruch atah Adonai, ha’El hakadosh
Blessed are You, O LORD, the holy God.

4. Binah (Understanding)
You show favor to a man of knowledge, and teach understanding to a mortal man. Be gracious to us and give us Your knowledge, understanding, and intelligence which is from You (Deuteronomy 4:5-6; Proverbs 1:7, 22; 2:5, 6, 10; 9:10; 13:16; 15:2, 14; Isaiah 26:3; John 7:17; 1 Corinthians 2:14-16; 1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 2:4; Titus 1:1; James 3:13-18).

Pause for confession and repentance.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה חוֹנֵן הַדָּעַת
Baruch atah Adonai, chonen hada’at
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who favors knowledge.

5. Teshuvah (Repentance)
Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah, and bring us closer, our King, to Your service, and make us return in complete repentance before You (Deuteronomy 4:7; Psalm 19:7-11; 51; James 4:8-10).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הָרוֹצֶה בִּתְשׁוּבָה
Baruch atah Adonai, harotzeh bit’shuvah
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who desires repentance (Luke 3:1-9; Acts 20:21; 2 Corinthians 7:10).

6. Selach (Forgiveness)
Forgive us, our Father, for we have transgressed; pardon us, our King, for we have intentionally sinned, for You pardon and forgive (Psalm 32:1-5; 51; 66:18; Matthew 9:1-7; 1 John 1:5-10).

Pause for confession and repentance.

בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה חַנּוּן הַמַרְבֶּה לסְלֹחַ
Baruch atah Adonai, chanun hamarbeh lislo’ach
Blessed are You, O LORD, who multiplies forgiveness.

7. Ge’ulah (Redemption)
Behold our affliction, take up our grievance, and save us soon for the sake of Your Name, for You are a powerful Redeemer of Israel [and the Church, the Body of Your Son Yeshuah][1] (Job 19:25; Psalm 55:16-18; 105:15; Isaiah 41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 54:5).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה גּוֹאֵ ישְרָאֵל
Baruch atah Adonai, go’el Yisra’el
Blessed are You, O LORD, Redeemer of Israel.

8. Refuah (Healing)
Heal us, O LORD, and we shall be healed; save us, and we shall be saved, for You are our joy and praise, and bring full healing for all our wounds, for You are God, King, the faithful and compassionate Healer (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 32:39, 46-47; Psalm 107:20; Proverbs 3:8; 4:22; 12:18; 13:17; 16:24; Isaiah 19:22; Jeremiah 3:22; 17:14; 30:17; 1 Corinthians 12:28, 30; Revelation 22:2).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה רוֹפֵא חוֹלֵי עמ ישְרָאֵל
Baruch atah Adonai, rofeh cholei amoh Yisra’el
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who heals His people Israel.

9. Birkat HaShanim (Blessings of the Years)
Bless for us, O LORD our God, this year and its crops. Give us blessing, and give dew and rain for blessing on the face of the earth, and satisfy us from Your goodness, and bless our year like the other good years (Psalm 1; Mark 4:26-29).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים
Baruch atah Adonai, mevarech hashanim
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who blesses the years.

10. Kibbutz Galuyot (Ingathering of Exiles)
Sound the great shofar for our freedom, and raise a banner to gather our exiles [from both houses of Israel], and gather us [in Mashiach Yeshuah] from the four corners of the earth (Psalm 68:20; John 12:26; 14:1-6, 18, 28; 17:22-26; 1 Corinthians 16:22b - maran'athah [מרנא תא]).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מֵקַבֵּץ נִדְחֵי עמוֹ ישְרָאֵל
Baruch atah Adonai, mekabetz nid’chei amoh Yisra’el

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who gathers the dispersed of His people Israel.

11. Birkat HaDin (Justice)
Restore our judges as in early times and our counselors as at first; remove from us our grief and sighing; we want You, O LORD, alone, to rule over us with loving-kindness and compassion and to establish our innocence by Your judgment (Exodus 18:21; Deuteronomy 1:9-18; 16:19; Proverbs 16:10; 18:5; Isaiah 5:20).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מֶלֶךְ אהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט
Baruch atah Adonai, melech ohev tzedakah u’mishpat
Blessed are You, O LORD, King Who loves righteousness and justice.

12. Birkat ha-Minim / ha Zaddukim ברכת המינים

May no hope be left to the slanderers; but may wickedness perish as in a moment; may all Your enemies be soon cut off, and may You speedily uproot the haughty and shatter and humble them speedily in our days. Blessed are You, O Lord, who strikes down enemies and humbles the proud (Deuteronomy 2:16; 2 Chronicles 6:23; Psalm 1:6; 68:1-2; 109:12-13; Proverbs 10:16; Isaiah 13:11; Jeremiah 2:19; 2 John 7; Revelation).

בְיָמֵֽינוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה שׁוֹבֵר אֹיְ֒בִים וּמַכְנִֽיעַ זֵדִים:

Blessed are you, O LORD, who breaks down enemies and subdues the arrogant.

13. Tzadikim (The Righteous)
On the righteous, on the devout, on the elders of Your people, the house of Israel, on the remnant of their scribes, on the righteous converts and on us, may Your compassion be aroused, O LORD our God, and give good reward to all those who truly trust Your Name. May You put our share among them forever, and we shall not be ashamed, for You we trust (Psalm 11:7).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מִשְׁעָן וּמבְטָח לַצַּדִּקים
Baruch atah Adonai, mishan u’mivtach la’tzadikim
Blessed are You O LORD, Who supports and safeguards the righteous.

14. Binyan Yerushalaiyim (Rebuilding Jerusalem)
And to Jerusalem Your city You shall return with mercy, and You shall dwell in it, as You have spoken. May You rebuild it soon in our days for eternity, [made ready as a bride adorned for her husband,] and may You establish [Mashiach Yeshuah on] the throne of David within it (Psalm 122:6; Revelation 21-22).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלים
Baruch atah Adonai, boneh Yerushalaiyim
Blessed are You, O LORD, Builder of Jerusalem.

15. Malchut Ben David (Davidic Reign – Yeshuah the i)
May the [kingdom of Yeshuah the Mashiach, the] offspring of David, Your Servant, flourish speedily and exalt His honor with Your salvation. For Your salvation we hope all day long. Amen (Come, Adonai Yeshuah - 1 Corinthians 16:22b - maran'athah [מרנא תא]).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מַצְמיחַ קֶרֶן יְשׁעה
Baruch atah Adonai, matzimiach keren yeshuah
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who makes the Horn of Salvation to flourish.

16. Tefillah (Acceptance of Prayer)
Hear our voice, O Lord our God. Have mercy and compassion for us, and accept our prayers mercifully and willingly, for You are God who listens to prayers and supplications. From before Yourself, our King, turn us not away empty handed, for You hear the prayer of Your people Israel mercifully (Deuteronomy 4:31; Psalm 4:3; 69:33; 116:1; Matthew 6:5-8, 11; 1 John 5:14-15).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה שׁוֹמֵעַ תּלּה
Baruch atah Adonai, shome’a tefillah
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who hears prayers.

17. Avodah (Service)
Be favorable, O LORD our God, toward Your people Israel and to their prayer, and restore the most holy service of Your house. Accept in love the offerings and prayers of Israel, and may the service of Your people, Israel, always be favorable to You. May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy (1 Corinthians 16:22b - maran'athah [מרנא תא]).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַמַחֲזִיר שְׁכִינתוֹ לְצִיּוֹן
Baruch atah Adonai, hamachazir shekhinato l’Tzion
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who restores His presence to Zion.

18. Modim (Thanksgiving)
We thank You, for You are ADONAI, our God and the God of our forefathers forever and ever. The Rock of our lives, the Shield of our salvation, You are in every generation. We thank You and tell Your glory for our lives which are in Your hands, and for our souls that are entrusted to You, and for Your miracles that are with us every day, and for Your wonders and favors that happen all the time, evening (עֶרֶב) and morning (בֹּקֶר) and noon (צֹהַר).  The Good One, for Your compassion was not exhausted, and the Compassionate One, for Your merciful deeds have not ended; always have we put our hope in You. For all these, may Your name be blessed and exalted, our King, always, forever and ever; and all the living will thank You and praise Your name truly, O God, our salvation and help (Psalm 13:5-6; 68:4-6; 104:34; 136; John 2:23-25; 1 Peter 2:23; 4:19).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַטוֹב שִׁמְךָ וּלְךָ נָאֶה לְהוֹדוֹת
Baruch atah Adonai, hatov shimcha ulecha na’eh l’hodot
Blessed are You, O LORD, the Good One is Your name, and You are proper to thank.

19. Sim Shalom (Establish Peace)
Establish peace, goodness, and blessing, graciousness, kindness, and compassion upon us, and upon all Israel Your people. Bless us our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your countenance; for with the light of Your countenance You gave us, O LORD our God, [Yeshuah the Mashiach,] the Torah of Life, and a love of kindness, righteousness, blessing, compassion, life and peace.

May it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel, in every season and in every hour with Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26; Isaiah 9:6; John 14:25-27).

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַמְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמוֹ יִשְרָאֵל בַּשָּׁלוֹם
Baruch atah Adonai, hamevarech et amoh Yisra’el bashalom
Blessed are You, O LORD, Who blesses His people Israel with peace.

Yihyu (May They Be)

יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יהוה צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי
Yihyu l’ratzon imrei fi, v’hegyon libi, l’faneicha, Adonai tzuri v’go’eli
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer [Mashiach Yeshuah] (Psalm 19:14).

[1] For us who have experienced the New Birth (John 3:3) and follow Yeshua Mashiach as His disciples, prayers are offered for both Israel and the Bride of Yeshua Mashiach throughout the Amidah.