One should not stand up to pray except from a state of awe. The pious men of earlier times used to wait an hour before praying, so that they could direct their thoughts to-ward the Omnipresent. Even if the king inquires about one’s welfare, one may not reply to him [while praying]. And even if a snake is coiled around his foot, he may not interrupt.

We mention ‘‘the Powers of Rain’’ in [the blessing] ‘‘The Resuscitation of the Dead,’’ and we ask for rain in ‘‘the Blesssing of the Years,’’ and [we recite] the Havdalah [prayer] in [the blessing] ‘‘Who Graces [Man] with Understanding.’’ R’ Akiva says: He says it as a fourth blessing of its own. R’ Eliezer says: [He says it] in [the] ‘‘Thanksgiving’’ [blessing].