The Prayer of Jesus in Aramaic (“The Lord’s Prayer”)

Transliteration and original translation by Dr. Neil Douglas-Klotz from the Peshitta (Syriac-Aramaic) version of Matthew 6:9-13 & Luke 11:2-4. Reprinted from Prayers of the Cosmos: Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus (Harper Collins, 1990). © 1990 Neil Douglas-Klotz. All rights reserved, including the right to reprint in whole or in part.

Click on the links below to hear each line of the prayer. Each opens in separate tab.

Abwoon d’bwashmaya

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos/You create all that moves in light.

Nethqadash shmakh

Focus your light within us–make it useful: as the rays of a beacon show the way.

Teytey malkuthakh

Create your reign of unity now–through our fiery hearts and willing hands.

Nehwey sebyanach aykanna d’bwashmaya aph b’arha.

Your one desire then acts with ours, as in all light, so in all forms.

Habwlan lachma d’sunqanan yaomana.

Grant what we need each day in bread and insight:

subsistence for the call of growing life.

Washboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn)

aykana daph khnan shbwoqan l’khayyabayn.

Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,

as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.

Wela tahlan l’nesyuna.

Ela patzan min bisha.

Don’t let us enter forgetfulness

But free us from unripeness

Metol dilakhie malkutha wahayla wateshbukhta l’ahlam almin.

Ameyn.

From you is born all ruling will, the power and the life to do,

the song that beautifies all, from age to age it renews.

Truly–power to these statements–may they be the source from which all my actions grow. Sealed in trust & faith. Amen.