God Looks Only at the Good in Us / Seeing the Good in Others / God Sometimes Relates to Us Through Providence and Sometimes Through Nature [Both Prayers 13 and 18 are based on Rebbe Nachman’s lesson in Likutey Moharan II, 17. That lesson consists of two distinct parts; therefore, Reb Noson wrote Prayer 13 focusing on the topic of Shabbat, and Prayer 18 focusing on the topic of Divine providence.] God looks at the good that we do and ignores anything untoward that it might contain. (In the same way, we, too, may not view others negatively and seek to find their flaws. To the contrary, we must look only at the good.) That is why God created a world with both providence and nature. When a person does something good, God guides him with providence. If he does something wrong, God lets nature take its course. If only providence existed, when God would see that people aren’t acting correctly, He would grow angry and eliminate His providence — which is a sign of His care — entirely. But now, at such times, He leaves people to nature. And when they improve, God again exercises providence over them. However, there is a paradox here that we as human beings cannot understand — which is that we cannot differentiate between nature and providence, since nature itself is God’s providence. God’s Compassion God, Master of the world, it is Your way to be patient with both wicked and good people — and that constitutes Your praise.
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who are good and do good to all, it is Your way to do good for Your creatures. You tend toward lovingkindness always.
You do not desire to look at and see the evil and sins that we commit, Heaven forbid. Rather, in Your mighty lovingkindness, You gaze upon and look at the little bit of good that You find within us.
As the verse states, “He has not gazed upon sin in Jacob and has not seen weariness in Israel; HaShem his God is with him, and the friendship of the King is with him.” And, “If I have seen sin in my heart, HaShem does not hear it. But God has heard and taken heed of the voice of my prayer.”
Therefore, I, Your servant, have found it possible to offer You my heartfelt prayer. And I continue to stand and hope for Your true salvation. When will it come to me so that I will truly return to You?
I have begged You so long regarding this, with so many expressions of prayer and pleading, but I still have not been saved. I know that the obstacle comes from within me — but I rely on Your great goodness.
Peer, gaze and look at the very few good points that still exist within me. Turn Your eyes from seeing and looking at the multitude and magnitude of the evil within me. Subdue and nullify that evil, which is so considerable when compared to the little amount of good within me.
In Your great power, empower the little amount of good within me so that it will overcome the evil. From now on may I truly return to You in complete repentance.
In Your lovingkindness, always send me goodness in the material and spiritual realms — not in accordance with what I and the blemished work of my hands deserve, Heaven forbid, but in accordance with Your lovingkindness, Your great goodness and Your mighty compassion, as a result of which You do not gaze at the evil in me but at the little bit of good. Do not withhold goodness from me, from now and forevermore.
Seeing the Good in Others May I not look or gaze at the evil within any Jew in the world. May I not turn my eyes to any of his deeds or traits that are not good.
In Your vast compassion and lovingkindness, open my mind’s eye and give me a perfected, holy consciousness so that I will seek, search for and find merit and goodness in every Jew — even in the least of the least.
May I meet every Jew and speak with him in ultimate truth about the true purpose, and appreciate his good points, so that I will be inspired to return to You, HaShem.
May I illuminate others with the good in myself and grace them with my true awareness that comes from the good within myself, sharing with them all of the good hidden in me by virtue of the fact that I possess the holiness of being a Jew.
Have pity and mercy on me and on the entire Jewish people for the sake of Your Name, for the sake of Your true Tzaddikim, and for the sake of Your holy Torah. Act for Your sake and for our sake. Act for Your sake and save us. Bring us back to You in complete repentance.
Have pity on me as long as my soul is within me. The day has waned and my years have passed, and not one year or one day has passed without my causing a great deal of blemishes.
Have compassion on me from now on to revive the small remnant that remains of me, so that from now on, with Your help, I will overcome the evil with good, because a little light repels a great deal of darkness.
“Do not forsake me and do not abandon me, God of my salvation.” “Do not gather my soul with sinners, or my life with men of blood.” “Do not abandon me, HaShem; my God, do not be far from me. Hurry to help me, God, my salvation.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה י"ז בְּסוֹפָהּ - דֶּרֶךְ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ – לְהַבִּיט עַל הַטּוֹבוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂין]
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, דַּרְכְּךָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְהַאֲרִיךְ אַפֶּךָ לָרָעִים וְלַטּוֹבִים, וְהִיא תְהִלָּתֶךָ.
God Looks Only at the Good in Us / Seeing the Good in Others / God Sometimes Relates to Us Through Providence and Sometimes Through Nature
[Both Prayers 13 and 18 are based on Rebbe Nachman’s lesson in Likutey Moharan II, 17. That lesson consists of two distinct parts; therefore, Reb Noson wrote Prayer 13 focusing on the topic of Shabbat, and Prayer 18 focusing on the topic of Divine providence.]
God looks at the good that we do and ignores anything untoward that it might contain. (In the same way, we, too, may not view others negatively and seek to find their flaws. To the contrary, we must look only at the good.)
That is why God created a world with both providence and nature. When a person does something good, God guides him with providence. If he does something wrong, God lets nature take its course. If only providence existed, when God would see that people aren’t acting correctly, He would grow angry and eliminate His providence — which is a sign of His care — entirely. But now, at such times, He leaves people to nature. And when they improve, God again exercises providence over them.
However, there is a paradox here that we as human beings cannot understand — which is that we cannot differentiate between nature and providence, since nature itself is God’s providence.
God’s Compassion
God, Master of the world, it is Your way to be patient with both wicked and good people — and that constitutes Your praise.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל, אֲשֶׁר דַּרְכְּךָ לְהֵיטִיב לִבְרִיּוֹתֶיךָ, וְאַתָּה מַטֶּה כְּלַפֵּי חֶסֶד תָּמִיד,
You Who are filled with compassion, You Who are good and do good to all, it is Your way to do good for Your creatures. You tend toward lovingkindness always.
וְאֵין אַתָּה חָפֵץ לְהַבִּיט וּלְהִסְתַּכֵּל עַל הָרַע וְהָאָוֶן שֶׁאָנוּ עוֹשִׂין חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק אַתָּה מַבִּיט וּמַשְׁגִּיחַ עַל מְעַט הַטּוֹב שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ בַּחֲסָדֶיךָ הָעֲצוּמִים,
You do not desire to look at and see the evil and sins that we commit, Heaven forbid. Rather, in Your mighty lovingkindness, You gaze upon and look at the little bit of good that You find within us.
כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: לֹא הִבִּיט אָוֶן בְּיַעֲקֹב וְלֹא רָאָה עָמָל בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו עִמּוֹ, וּתְרוּעַת מֶלֶךְ בּוֹ. וְנֶאֱמַר: אָוֶן אִם רָאִיתִי בְלִבִּי לֹא יִשְׁמַע יְהֹוָה, אָכֵן שָׁמַע אֱלֹהִים, הִקְשִׁיב בְּקוֹל תְּפִלָּתִי.
As the verse states, “He has not gazed upon sin in Jacob and has not seen weariness in Israel; HaShem his God is with him, and the friendship of the King is with him.” And, “If I have seen sin in my heart, HaShem does not hear it. But God has heard and taken heed of the voice of my prayer.”
עַל כֵּן מָצָא עַבְדְּךָ אֶת לִבּוֹ עֲדַיִן לְהִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ, וַעֲדַיִן עֲדַיִן עַל מִשְׁמַרְתִּי אֶעֱמֹדָה וַאֲצַפֶּה לִישׁוּעָתְךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּית, מָתַי תָּבוֹא אֵלַי שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת,
Therefore, I, Your servant, have found it possible to offer You my heartfelt prayer. And I continue to stand and hope for Your true salvation. When will it come to me so that I will truly return to You?
אֲשֶׁר עַל זֶה בִּקַּשְׁתִּי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ זֶה כַּמָּה, בְּכַמָּה לְשׁוֹנוֹת שֶׁל תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּנִים, וַעֲדַיִן לֹא נוֹשַׁעְתִּי, וַאֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהַמְּנִיעָה מִמֶּנִּי, אֲבָל עַל טוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל אֲנִי נִשְׁעָן עֲדַיִן,
I have begged You so long regarding this, with so many expressions of prayer and pleading, but I still have not been saved. I know that the obstacle comes from within me — but I rely on Your great goodness.
שֶׁתָּצִיץ וְתַבִּיט וְתַשְׁגִּיחַ עַל מְעַט דִּמְעַט נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת הַנִּמְצָאִים בִּי עֲדַיִן, וְתַעְלִים עֵינֶיךָ מִלִּרְאוֹת וּלְהִסְתַּכֵּל עַל רִבּוּי וְעֹצֶם הָרַע שֶׁבִּי, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁתַּכְנִיעַ וּתְבַטֵּל רִבּוּי הָרַע לְגַבֵּי מְעַט הַטּוֹב שֶׁבִּי.
Peer, gaze and look at the very few good points that still exist within me. Turn Your eyes from seeing and looking at the multitude and magnitude of the evil within me. Subdue and nullify that evil, which is so considerable when compared to the little amount of good within me.
וּבְכֹחֲךָ הַגָּדוֹל תִּתֵּן כֹּחַ לִמְעַט הַטּוֹב שֶׁבִּי שֶׁיִּתְגַּבֵּר עַל הָרַע שֶׁבִּי, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה לָשׁוּב בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת,
In Your great power, empower the little amount of good within me so that it will overcome the evil. From now on may I truly return to You in complete repentance.
וְתֵטִיב עִמִּי בְּחַסְדְּךָ בְּכָל עֵת בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וְרוּחָנִיּוּת, לֹא כִגְמוּלִי וּכְמַעֲשֵׂי יָדַי הַפְּגוּמִים חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק כְּחַסְדְּךָ וּכְטוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וּכְרַחֲמָנוּתְךָ הֶעָצוּם, אֲשֶׁר אֵין אַתָּה מַבִּיט עַל הָרַע כִּי אִם עַל מְעַט הַטּוֹב. וְאַל תִּמְנַע טוֹב מִמֶּנִּי מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם:
In Your lovingkindness, always send me goodness in the material and spiritual realms — not in accordance with what I and the blemished work of my hands deserve, Heaven forbid, but in accordance with Your lovingkindness, Your great goodness and Your mighty compassion, as a result of which You do not gaze at the evil in me but at the little bit of good. Do not withhold goodness from me, from now and forevermore.
וּתְרַחֵם עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְתִתֶּן לִי דַעַת שָׁלֵם דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְדַבֵּק בִּדְרָכֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים,
Have compassion on me and on the entire Jewish people. Give me a perfected, holy consciousness so that I will cling to Your holy ways.
לְבַל אֶסְתַּכֵּל וְאַבִּיט עַל הָרַע שֶׁל שׁוּם בַּר יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְלֹא אָשִׂים עֵינַי כְּלָל עַל מַעֲשָׂיו וּמִדּוֹתָיו שֶׁאֵינָם טוֹבִים,
Seeing the Good in Others
May I not look or gaze at the evil within any Jew in the world. May I not turn my eyes to any of his deeds or traits that are not good.
רַק אֶזְכֶּה לָדוּן אֶת כָּל אָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת, וּלְהִסְתַּכֵּל רַק עַל הַטּוֹב שֶׁל כָּל אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, וְלֹא אֶסְתַּכֵּל עַל הָרַע שֶׁלּוֹ כְּלָל.
May I judge every Jew favorably and only look at the good in him. May I not look at the evil in him at all.
וּבְרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ הָרַבִּים תִּפְקַח אֶת עֵינֵי דַעְתִּי, וְתִתֶּן לִי דַּעַת שָׁלֵם דִּקְדֻשָּׁה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְחַפֵּשׂ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ וְלִמְצֹא זְכוּת וָטוֹב בְּכָל אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, אֲפִלּוּ בְּהַגָּרוּעַ שֶׁבַּגְּרוּעִים.
In Your vast compassion and lovingkindness, open my mind’s eye and give me a perfected, holy consciousness so that I will seek, search for and find merit and goodness in every Jew — even in the least of the least.
וְאֶזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת וּלְהַבִּיט רַק עַל הַטּוֹב שֶׁבְּכָל אֶחָד, וְלֹא אַבִּיט וְאֶסְתַּכֵּל עַל הָרַע שֶׁבָּהֶם כְּלָל.
May I see and gaze solely at the good in everyone, and not gaze or look at any evil in anyone.
וְתִתֶּן לִי עַיִן יָפָה וְטוֹבָה לְהַבִּיט עַל כָּל אֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל לְטוֹבָה, אֶת הַטּוֹב שֶׁבּוֹ אֲקַבֵּל בְּדַעְתִּי לְהִסְתַּכֵּל עָלָיו, וְאֶת הָרַע לֹא אֲקַבֵּל, וְלֹא אָשִׁית עֵינַי עָלָיו כְּלָל,
Give me a beautiful and good eye with which to gaze at every Jew for the good. May I resolve to look only at the good in him and not the evil at all.
לְמַעַן אֶזְכֶּה לִהְיוֹת טוֹב וְיָשָׁר גַּם עִם יְהֹוָה וְעִם אֲנָשִׁים, וְאֶמְצָא חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱלֹהִים וְאָדָם,
May I be good and straight in Your eyes, HaShem, and in the eyes of people. May I “find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man.”
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאוּכַל לְהִתְוָעֵד עִם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, לְדַבֵּר עִמָּהֶם בֶּאֱמֶת לַאֲמִתּוֹ מֵהַתַּכְלִית הָאֲמִתִּי, וּלְקַבֵּל מִנְּקֻדָּתָם הַטּוֹבָה לְהִתְעוֹרֵר וְלָשׁוּב לַיהֹוָה,
May I meet every Jew and speak with him in ultimate truth about the true purpose, and appreciate his good points, so that I will be inspired to return to You, HaShem.
וּלְהָאִיר בָּהֶם מִנְּקֻדָּתִי הַטּוֹבָה, וּלְחוֹנֵן אוֹתָם בַּאֲמִתַּת הַדַּעַת שֶׁל נְקֻדָּתִי הַטּוֹבָה, לְהוֹדִיעָם אֶת כָּל הַטּוֹב הַנִּצְפָּן בִּי מִקְּדֻשַּׁת יִשְׂרָאֵל.
May I illuminate others with the good in myself and grace them with my true awareness that comes from the good within myself, sharing with them all of the good hidden in me by virtue of the fact that I possess the holiness of being a Jew.
חוּס וַחֲמֹל עָלַי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ וּלְמַעַן צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים וּלְמַעַן תּוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה, עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְךָ וְלֹא לְמַעֲנֵנוּ, עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַנְךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ, וְהַחֲזִירֵנוּ בִּתְשׁוּבָה שְׁלֵמָה לְפָנֶיךָ.
Have pity and mercy on me and on the entire Jewish people for the sake of Your Name, for the sake of Your true Tzaddikim, and for the sake of Your holy Torah. Act for Your sake and for our sake. Act for Your sake and save us. Bring us back to You in complete repentance.
חוּסָה עָלַי כָּל עוֹד נַפְשִׁי בִּי, כִּי כְבָר פָּנָה יוֹם, וּכְבָר עָבְרוּ מִשְּׁנוֹתַי מַה שֶּׁעָבְרוּ, וַעֲדַיִן לֹא עָבַר עָלַי שָׁנָה אַחַת וְלֹא יוֹם אֶחָד בְּלִי פְּגָמִים הַרְבֵּה.
Have pity on me as long as my soul is within me. The day has waned and my years have passed, and not one year or one day has passed without my causing a great deal of blemishes.
רַחֵם עָלַי מֵעַתָּה לְהַחֲיוֹת מְעַט פְּלֵטָתִי הַנִּשְׁאֶרֶת, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה מֵעַתָּה בְּכֹחֲךָ לְהַגְבִּיר הַטּוֹב עַל הָרָע, כִּי מְעַט מִן הָאוֹר דּוֹחֶה הַרְבֵּה מִן הַחֹשֶׁךְ.
Have compassion on me from now on to revive the small remnant that remains of me, so that from now on, with Your help, I will overcome the evil with good, because a little light repels a great deal of darkness.
אַל תִּטְּשֵׁנִי וְאַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעִי, אַל תֶּאֱסֹף עִם חַטָּאִים נַפְשִׁי וְעִם אַנְשֵׁי דָמִים חַיָּי, אַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהַי אַל תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי, חוּשָׁה לְעֶזְרָתִי אֲדֹנָי תְּשׁוּעָתִי:
“Do not forsake me and do not abandon me, God of my salvation.” “Do not gather my soul with sinners, or my life with men of blood.” “Do not abandon me, HaShem; my God, do not be far from me. Hurry to help me, God, my salvation.”