The Ramchal's Prayer in Time of War

The Ramchal's Prayer in Time of War

  אל אחד יחיד ומיוחד תאזרני חיל למלחמה תכריע קמי תחתי, שאתה איש מלחמה שנאמר בך ה' איש מלחמה, ובזמן שאתה יוצא אין מי יעמוד לנגדך, שהרי אתה אוזר גבורה שנאמר עליך מלך נאזר בגבורה, וכן בזמן שאתה רוצה שישראל יעשו מלחמה נגד הס"א אתה אוזר להם גבורתך שהרי מלכי בית דוד שהצליחו, הכל בגבורתך שנתת להם, ונאמר בהם יהודה גבר באחיו, ומיד שיאזר בגבורה זאת, הס"מ שרוצה להתחזק בגבורה שלו נופל לפניהם ונאמר בהם גבור לא ינצל ברב כח שהרי נופל עליהם פחד ורעדה מגבורתך, שנאמר בהם תפול עליהם אימתה ופחד, שהרי גבור חיל שלך עושה חיל לס"א, חיל ורעדה ודאי, שהרי בך נאמר נראה על הים כבחור נאה למלחמה, מהיר, שנאמר בו ישיש כגבור לרוץ אורח, אבל הס"א הוא מלך זקן וכסיל שאינו יכול להיות בחור למלחמה אלא בזמן שאתה נותן לו רשות הוא מתחזק ונוצח שאמרו עליו גברא קטילא קטילת, ובזמן שאתה רוצה להתחזק בגבורתך אתה מושל ודאי, שנאמר בך משל בגבורתו עולם, רבון כל העולמים לך זרוע עם גבורה תאזרני חיל למלחמה   Transliteration: El Echad Yachid U'Meyuchad, ta'azreni chayil la-milchamah; tachri'a kamai tachtai, she-Atah Ish Milchamah, she-ne'emar becha: Ha-Shem Ish Milchamah. U'vezman she-Atah yotzei, mi ya'amod le-negdecha? She-harei Atah ozer gevurah, she-ne'emar alecha: Melech ne'ezar bi-gevurah. Ve-chen, be-zman she-Atah rotzeh she-Yisrael ya'asu milchamah neged Sitra Achra, Atah ozer lahem gevuratecha, she-harei Malchei Beit David she-hitzlichu, ve-kol be-gevuratecha she-natata lahem. Ve-ne'emar bahem: Yehudah gavar be-echav. U'miyad she-ye'azer bi-gevurah zot, Samech-Mem (Satan) she-rotzeh le-hit'chazek bi-gevurah shelo nofel lifneihem, ve-ne'emar bahem: Gibor lo yinatzel be-rov ko'ach. She-harei nofel aleihem pachad ve-re'adah mi-gevuratecha, she-ne'emar bahem: Tipol aleihem eimatah u'fached. She-harei gibor chayil shelcha oseh chayil le-Sitra Achra, chayil u're'adah vadאי. She-harei becha ne'emar: Nir'eh al ha-yam ke-bachur na'eh la-milchamah, ma hir, she-ne'emar bo: Yasis ke-gibor larutz orach. Aval Sitra Achra hu melech zaken ve-chasil, she-eino yachol liheyot bachur la-milchamah, ela be-zman she-Atah noten lo reshut, hu mit'chazek ve-notze'ach, she-amru alav: Gavra ketila katalt. Be-zman she-Atah rotzeh le-hit'chazek bi-gevurotecha, Atah moshel vadai, she-ne'emar becha: Moshel bi-gevurato olam. Ribono shel kol ha-olamim, lecha zero'a im gevurah; ta'azreni chayil la-milchamah.   Translation: G-d, One, Unique, and Singular—You have girded me with strength for battle; You have subdued those who rose against me beneath me. (Tehillim 18:40) For You are a warrior, as it is said of You: “The L-rd is a warrior.” (Shemot 15:3) When You go forth, there is no one who can stand against You, for You are girded with might, as it is said of You: “Who is girded with strength.” (Tehillim 65:7) And when You wish Israel to wage war against the Sitra Achra, You gird them with Your strength, for the kings of the House of David who prevailed did so solely through the strength You granted them, as it is said of them: “Judah prevailed over his brothers.” (Divrei HaYamim I 5:2) When the kings were girded with such strength, the enemy who relied on his own might fell before them, as it is said: “A king is not saved by a great army; a warrior is not delivered by great strength.” (Tehillim 33:16) Fear and trembling from Your strength will overtake them, as it is said: “Terror and dread will fall upon them.” (Shemot 15:16) For Your might gives strength to the Sitra Achra—true strength and trembling. Of You it is said: “When he was born, the entire house was filled with light.” (Rashi on Shemot 2:2) He is ready and swift for battle, as it is said of him: “He rejoices like a warrior running his course.” But the Sitra Achra is an old and foolish king, unable to be a young warrior in battle. Only when You grant him permission does he grow strong and prevail, as it is said of him: “He slew a dead man.” (Sanhedrin 96) When You wish to strengthen Yourself with Your might, You are surely the sovereign Ruler, as it is said of You: “He rules with His might forever.” (Tehillim 66:7) Master of the entire world, “Your arm is mighty, Your hand is strong.” (Tehillim 89:14) You have girded me with strength for battle.” (http://revach.net/tefilah/special-tefilos/A-Special-War-Time-Tefila-By-The-Ramchal/3232?fbclid=IwAR0rHO4pMZ8aAr9cNqulmIe6m56XckTzClnfxc9zfp6iHeKRFO8Htz1tuiY# (With gratitude to Uri'el Ha-El and Ila-Tova Schlesinger)