Earthly and Heavenly Foes When a person has enemies below, that indicates that he has enemies above. Overcoming Dispute “Be gracious to me, God, for men have yearned to swallow me. The entire day, the warrior oppresses me. Those who look upon me yearn to swallow me the entire day; many are those who wage war against me, Exalted One. On the day that I fear, I trust in You.”
Master of the world, You know everything that I have undergone and experienced my entire life until this day. Were I to review the merest hint of this, if “I were to count them, [I would find] them more numerous than the sand,” and time would not suffice to recall them.
You know that added to the combination of my stubbornness and my intense guilt, I am condemned by the magnitude of the constantly increasing opposition against me in the physical and spiritual realms.
“HaShem, how many are my adversaries, how many rise up against me!” They are so many people — righteous, intermediate and wicked; learned, wealthy and intelligent — as You know, Master of all.
And now, what shall a person like me, a despicable insect, do today when people pursue me mercilessly and threaten to swallow me alive without cause, Heaven forbid? “Many are my persecutors and my enemies.” But is it true that “from Your testimonies I have not turned aside”?
Master of the world, You know that despite all of my great guilt and offenses, despite the fact that I am a blameworthy, willful sinner who has committed evil deeds, my entire thought and intent is solely for the good. I still knock at the doors of compassion, so that the gates of holiness will open for me and I will come close to You from where I stand.
You know how vigorously our rabbis, the true Tzaddikim, have urged us to encourage ourselves in prayer and supplications at all times, however things may be.
Truthfully, I know how much I need to strengthen myself in this. If only, if only, whether immediately or over time, I will exert myself to find some opening so that I may repent of my evil deeds and foul thoughts.
My Father in Heaven, what can I do and what can I accomplish against those who scorn, mock, accuse, dispute and persecute me — both in the physical and spiritual realms, above and below?
You know that just as I have troubles below, so do I have enemies above, for “many battle against me, Exalted One.” They constantly accuse me and prevent me from coming close and returning to You.
I admit before You Who are filled with compassion, in my shame and humiliation, that their accusations are not baseless. I am certainly unfit and unworthy to come close to You, due to the magnitude of my many offenses, sins and transgressions that I have committed against You.
But Your compassion is vast, HaShem. Your compassion is so vast, and I am poor and impoverished, needy and crushed. I have nowhere to flee, no one to run to, no one to escape to but You alone. “You have been my tower and a refuge on my day of trouble.” “HaShem is my might, my stronghold and my refuge on a day of trouble.”
Therefore, I come to You, my Father in Heaven, Who has mercy on the poor, Who seeks those who are persecuted — even when a righteous person pursues a wicked person — to act for the sake of Your Name, to help me and save me always so I can flee swiftly to You at any time.
I will flee to You from every type of persecution, dispute and accusation, Heaven forbid, and from every type of enemy and foe, so that I may come ever closer to You.
Help me overcome and subdue my enemies below, and open their eyes so they will see the truth: that all of their disputes and persecution is for naught, for I have no business with them. I truly desire peace. “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.”
Help me and save me, You Who are filled with compassion and desire truth. “Guard my soul and save me; may I not be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.” “Rescue me from my enemies; my God, lift me above those who have risen against me.”“Save me from the hand of my enemies and pursuers” in both the physical and spiritual realms.
I have no one to rely on except You, our Father in Heaven, and the true Tzaddikim, in whose holy, true ways I yearn to walk. Act for Your sake and for their sake — not for ours.
Encourage us, support us, and help us truly approach You. May no disputant, obstacle or obstruction — whether in the physical or spiritual realm — have the power to prevent us from serving You. Strengthen our weak hands and support our tottering knees.
Act so that I may walk in accordance with Your rules and keep Your mitzvot — I, my children, all who are dependent on me, and the entire House of Israel — from now and forever.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה י"ד - רַבִּים לוֹחֲמִים לִי מָרוֹם]
חָנֵּנִי אֱלֹהִים כִּי שְׁאָפַנִי אֱנוֹשׁ, כָּל הַיּוֹם לֹחֵם יִלְחָצֵנִי. שָׁאֲפוּ שׁוֹרְרַי כָּל הַיּוֹם כִּי רַבִּים לֹחֲמִים לִי מָרוֹם. יוֹם אִירָא אֲנִי אֵלֶיךָ אֶבְטָח.
Earthly and Heavenly Foes
When a person has enemies below, that indicates that he has enemies above.
Overcoming Dispute
“Be gracious to me, God, for men have yearned to swallow me. The entire day, the warrior oppresses me. Those who look upon me yearn to swallow me the entire day; many are those who wage war against me, Exalted One. On the day that I fear, I trust in You.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָבַר עָלַי, וְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר עָבַרְתִּי מִיּוֹם הֱיוֹתִי עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, אִם אָמַרְתִּי אֲסַפְּרָה כְּמוֹ אֶפֶס קָצֵה מִזֶּה, אֶסְפְּרֵם מֵחוֹל יִרְבְּיוּן, וְלֹא יַסְפִּיק הַזְּמַן לְפוֹרְטָם.
Master of the world, You know everything that I have undergone and experienced my entire life until this day. Were I to review the merest hint of this, if “I were to count them, [I would find] them more numerous than the sand,” and time would not suffice to recall them.
אַךְ אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ, שֶׁבְּצֵרוּף גֹּדֶל עֹצֶם קַשְׁיוּת עָרְפִּי וְחִיּוּבִי הֶעָצוּם, עוֹד גַּם זֶה הָיָה בְּעוֹכְרַי, גֹּדֶל עֹצֶם הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁמִּתְגַּבֵּר עָלַי בְּכָל עֵת בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת.
You know that added to the combination of my stubbornness and my intense guilt, I am condemned by the magnitude of the constantly increasing opposition against me in the physical and spiritual realms.
יְהֹוָה מָה רַבּוּ צָרָי, רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי, רַבִּים מְאֹד, צַדִּיקִים בֵּינוֹנִים וּרְשָׁעִים, רַבִּים בְּתוֹרָה וּבְעֹשֶׁר וּבְחָכְמָה, כַּאֲשֶׁר נִגְלָה לְפָנֶיךָ אֲדוֹן כֹּל.
“HaShem, how many are my adversaries, how many rise up against me!” They are so many people — righteous, intermediate and wicked; learned, wealthy and intelligent — as You know, Master of all.
וּכְבָר גִּלִּיתָ אָזְנֵינוּ שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת יְכוֹלִין לְהַפִּיל אֶת הָאָדָם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מֵעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ.
You have revealed to us that dispute can cast a person down from serving You, HaShem, Heaven forbid.
וְעַתָּה מַה יַּעֲשֶׂה יַתּוּשׁ נִמְאָס כָּמוֹנִי הַיּוֹם, אֲשֶׁר רוֹדְפִים אוֹתִי מְאֹד וְחוֹרְקִים שִׁנָּם עָלַי לְבָלְעֵנִי חִנָּם חָלִילָה, רַבִּים רוֹדְפַי וְצָרָי, וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ אִם מֵעֵדְוֹתֶיךָ לֹא נָטִיתִי.
And now, what shall a person like me, a despicable insect, do today when people pursue me mercilessly and threaten to swallow me alive without cause, Heaven forbid? “Many are my persecutors and my enemies.” But is it true that “from Your testimonies I have not turned aside”?
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, הֲלֹא אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ שֶׁאַחַר גֹּדֶל הַחִיּוּבִים וְהַפְּשִׁיעוֹת שֶׁאֲנִי חַיָּב וּפוֹשֵׁעַ בְּמַעֲשַׂי הָרָעִים מְאֹד, עִם כָּל זֶה כָּל מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי וְכַוָּנָתִי בַּמֶּה שֶּׁאֲנִי דּוֹפֵק עֲדַיִן עַל דַּלְתֵי רַחֲמִים, לִפְתֹּחַ לִי שַׁעֲרֵי הַקְּדֻשָּׁה וּלְקָרְבֵנִי אֵלֶיךָ מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁאֲנִי שָׁם, כָּל כַּוָּנָתִי בְּעֵסֶק זֶה הִיא לְטוֹבָה,
Master of the world, You know that despite all of my great guilt and offenses, despite the fact that I am a blameworthy, willful sinner who has committed evil deeds, my entire thought and intent is solely for the good. I still knock at the doors of compassion, so that the gates of holiness will open for me and I will come close to You from where I stand.
כִּי כָךְ צִוּוּנוּ צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, שֶׁלְּעוֹלָם אַל יִמְנַע אָדָם עַצְמוֹ מִן הָרַחֲמִים, וַאֲפִלּוּ חֶרֶב חַדָּה מֻנַּחַת עַל צַּוָּארוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם, אַל יִמְנַע עַצְמוֹ מִן הָרַחֲמִים.
The true Tzaddikim have told us that a person should never despair of Your compassion, even if a sharp sword is hanging over his neck.
וְאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ בְּכַמָּה הִתְחַזְּקוּת חִזְּקוּ אוֹתָנוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים לְהִתְחַזֵּק בִּתְפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּנִים בְּכָל עֵת, יִהְיֶה אֵיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה,
You know how vigorously our rabbis, the true Tzaddikim, have urged us to encourage ourselves in prayer and supplications at all times, however things may be.
וְגַם בֶּאֱמֶת יָדַעְתִּי כַּמָּה אֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְהִתְחַזֵּק בָּזֶה, כּוּלֵּי הַאי וְאוּלַי, כּוּלֵּי הַאי וְאוּלַי, אֶזְכֶּה מִיָּד אוֹ בְּהַרְחָבַת הַזְּמַן לַחְתֹּר וְלִמְצֹא אֵיזֶה פֶּתַח וַחֲתִירָה, שֶׁאוּכַל לָשׁוּב מִמַּעֲשַׂי הָרָעִים וּמִמַּחְשְׁבוֹתַי הַמְגֻנּוֹת.
Truthfully, I know how much I need to strengthen myself in this. If only, if only, whether immediately or over time, I will exert myself to find some opening so that I may repent of my evil deeds and foul thoughts.
וְעַתָּה אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה וּמָה אֶפְעַל נֶגֶד הַמַּלְעִיגִים וְהַלֵּיצָנִים וְהַמְקַטְרְגִים וְהַחוֹלְקִים וְהָרוֹדְפִים אוֹתִי מְאֹד מְאֹד, בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת, לְמַעְלָה וּלְמַטָּה, כִּי אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לִי צָרִים לְמַטָּה,
My Father in Heaven, what can I do and what can I accomplish against those who scorn, mock, accuse, dispute and persecute me — both in the physical and spiritual realms, above and below?
כָּךְ יֵשׁ לִי צָרִים לְמַעְלָה, כִּי רַבִּים לוֹחֲמִים לִי מָרוֹם הַמְקַטְרְגִים עָלַי בְּכָל עֵת, וְאֵינָם מַנִּיחִים אוֹתִי לְהִתְקָרֵב לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ.
You know that just as I have troubles below, so do I have enemies above, for “many battle against me, Exalted One.” They constantly accuse me and prevent me from coming close and returning to You.
וְאִם בֶּאֱמֶת מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, בְּבוּשָׁה וּכְלִמָּה, שֶׁקִּטְרוּגָם אֵינוֹ בְּחִנָּם, כִּי בְּוַדַּאי אֵינִי כְּדַאי וְהָגוּן לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ לְגֹדֶל עֹצֶם פְּשָׁעַי וַעֲוֹנוֹתַי וַחֲטָאַי, שֶׁחָטָאתִי וְעָוִיתִי וּפָשַׁעְתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ כָּל־כָּךְ.
I admit before You Who are filled with compassion, in my shame and humiliation, that their accusations are not baseless. I am certainly unfit and unworthy to come close to You, due to the magnitude of my many offenses, sins and transgressions that I have committed against You.
עִם כָּל זֶה, רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים יְהֹוָה רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים מְאֹד, וַאֲנִי עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן דַּל וְנִשְׁחָת, אֵין לִי לְהֵיכָן לִבְרֹחַ וְאֶל מִי לִבְרֹחַ וְלָנוּס כִּי אִם אֵלֶיךָ לְבַד, כִּי אַתָּה מִשְׂגָּב לִי וּמָנוֹס בְּיוֹם צַר לִי, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, יְהֹוָה עֻזִּי וּמָעֻזִּי וּמְנוּסִי בְּיוֹם צָרָה.
But Your compassion is vast, HaShem. Your compassion is so vast, and I am poor and impoverished, needy and crushed. I have nowhere to flee, no one to run to, no one to escape to but You alone. “You have been my tower and a refuge on my day of trouble.” “HaShem is my might, my stronghold and my refuge on a day of trouble.”
וְעַל זֶה בָּאתִי לְפָנֶיךָ אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים, אֲשֶׁר דַּרְכְּךָ לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת הַנִּרְדָּפִים, אֲפִלּוּ צַדִּיק רוֹדֵף אֶת הָרָשָׁע, שֶׁתַּעֲשֶׂה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְתַעַזְרֵנִי וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנִי תָמִיד לִבְרֹחַ וְלָנוּס אֵלֶיךָ בְּכָל־עֵת,
Therefore, I come to You, my Father in Heaven, Who has mercy on the poor, Who seeks those who are persecuted — even when a righteous person pursues a wicked person — to act for the sake of Your Name, to help me and save me always so I can flee swiftly to You at any time.
וּמִכָּל מִינֵי רְדִיפוֹת וּמַחֲלֹקֶת וְקִטְרוּגִים חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי אוֹיְבִים וְשׂוֹנְאִים, מִכֻּלָּם אֶבְרַח וְאָנוּס אֵלֶיךָ לְבַד, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר.
I will flee to You from every type of persecution, dispute and accusation, Heaven forbid, and from every type of enemy and foe, so that I may come ever closer to You.
וְתַעַזְרֵנִי לְהַשְׁפִּיל וּלְהַכְנִיעַ אוֹיְבַי תַּחְתָּי, וְתִפְקַח עֵינֵיהֶם וְיִרְאוּ הָאֱמֶת שֶׁכָּל מַחְלֹקְתָם וּרְדִיפָתָם בְּחִנָּם, כִּי אֵין לִי עֵסֶק עִמָּהֶם, וַאֲנִי חָפֵץ שָׁלוֹם בֶּאֱמֶת, אֲנִי שָׁלוֹם וְכִי אֲדַבֵּר הֵמָּה לַמִּלְחָמָה.
Help me overcome and subdue my enemies below, and open their eyes so they will see the truth: that all of their disputes and persecution is for naught, for I have no business with them. I truly desire peace. “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.”
עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, חָפֵץ בֶּאֱמֶת, שָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי וְהַצִּילֵנִי אַל אֵבוֹשׁ כִּי חָסִיתִי בָךְ. הַצִּילֵנִי מֵאוֹיְבַי אֱלֹהָי מִמִּתְקוֹמְמַי תְּשַׂגְּבֵנִי. הַצִּילֵנִי מִיַּד אוֹיְבַי וּמֵרוֹדְפָי בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת,
Help me and save me, You Who are filled with compassion and desire truth. “Guard my soul and save me; may I not be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.” “Rescue me from my enemies; my God, lift me above those who have risen against me.”“Save me from the hand of my enemies and pursuers” in both the physical and spiritual realms.
כִּי אֵין לִי עַל מִי לְהִשָּׁעֵן כִּי אִם עָלֶיךָ אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, וְעַל כֹּחָם שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲמִתִּיִּים, אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מִשְׁתּוֹקֵק לֵילֵךְ בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, לְמַעַנְךָ וּלְמַעֲנָם עֲשֵׂה וְלֹא לָנוּ.
I have no one to rely on except You, our Father in Heaven, and the true Tzaddikim, in whose holy, true ways I yearn to walk. Act for Your sake and for their sake — not for ours.
וְחַזְּקֵנוּ וְאַמְּצֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה כֹחַ לְשׁוּם חוֹלֵק וּמוֹנֵעַ וּמְעַכֵּב בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וְרוּחָנִיּוּת לְרַחֲקֵנוּ מֵעֲבוֹדָתְךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּית בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן. חַזֵּק יָדַיִם רָפוֹת וּבִרְכַּיִם כּוֹשְׁלוֹת תְּאַמֵּץ.
Encourage us, support us, and help us truly approach You. May no disputant, obstacle or obstruction — whether in the physical or spiritual realm — have the power to prevent us from serving You. Strengthen our weak hands and support our tottering knees.
וַעֲשֵׂה אֵת אֲשֶׁר בְּחֻקֶּיךָ אֵלֵךְ וְאֶת מִצְוֹתֶיךָ אֶשְׁמֹר אֲנִי וְזַרְעִי וְכָל הַנִּלְוִים אֵלַי וְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
Act so that I may walk in accordance with Your rules and keep Your mitzvot — I, my children, all who are dependent on me, and the entire House of Israel — from now and forever.
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא בְּרַחֲמָיו יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
May He Who makes peace in His heights, in His compassion make peace upon us and upon all Israel, and say, “Amen.”