[Intro — spoken plainly, no music yet] פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ — the last song מֹשֶׁה ever taught us, on the last day of his life. [Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm] הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ — the Rock, and all His work is whole, צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא — He is righteous and He is true. And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת, He will never abandon you. [Verse 1 — quiet, unhurried] On his last day he stood and sang, and called two witnesses to hear. הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם — listen, O heavens, lend your ear, וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ — and let the earth hear every word. יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי — let my teaching fall like rain — and Rashi says the תּוֹרָה He gave us is life to the world, the way the rain is life. [Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm] הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ — the Rock, and all His work is whole, צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא — He is righteous and He is true. And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת, He will never abandon you. [Verse 2 — quiet, building] הָבוּ גֹדֶל לֵאלֹקֵינוּ — give greatness to our God, he said, הֲלוֹא־הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ — is He not your Father, who made you His own? And Rashi says on עַם נָבָל, a foolish people, that it means only this: a people that has forgotten every single thing that was done for them. [Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm] הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ — the Rock, and all His work is whole, צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא — He is righteous and He is true. And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת, He will never abandon you. [Verse 3 — warmer, opening up] יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר — He found them in a desert land, יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ — He guarded them like the pupil of His eye. כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ — like an eagle waking up its nest — and Rashi says: with mercy and with pity, it never comes down on them all at once, it beats its wings above the little ones so they can wake, and have the strength to be lifted. [Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm] הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ — the Rock, and all His work is whole, צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא — He is righteous and He is true. And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת, He will never abandon you. [Verse 4 — full voice, then softening] They ate honey out of the rock, and they forgot Him. צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי — you forgot the Rock who bore you. The song says it plainly, and then moves on. כִּי־יָדִין הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ — Hashem will judge on behalf of His people, רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא — see now, He says, it is I, I am He. And Rashi says: I am the One who brings low, and I am the One who lifts you up again. [Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm] הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ — the Rock, and all His work is whole, צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא — He is righteous and He is true. And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת, He will never abandon you. [Outro — near silence, one voice, fading out] הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ — the Rock, and all His work is whole.
