I am appalled in my great affliction, for on the day when my sins are reckoned, what will I plead before my Master? I am desolate and speechless when I remember how guilty I am, I am ashamed and disgraced.
My days are consumed in vanity; because of the shame of my youth, there is no peace in my bones, I am burnt with fever because the scroll [of my debts] is unfolded, and the Creditor has come to collect.
I held fast to my darkness, and my soul did not consider that I am a stranger and a sojourner here. Woe unto me when my day comes, then I will awake from my dream, and return to my place.
And then for the sins I did, and the transgression I committed, what excuse will I offer to Him [God] Who sent me here? The evil in my heart enticed me, and for the iniquity which exhausted me, I was met from the womb.
The degenerate imagines in his soul that he is like a tree planted by a brook, while in fact he is carried to the grave. A false allusion clings to him, which melts away on his [final] journey, and he looks from side to side.
He is cast [into the grave] like a silent stone, and carries into the grave nothing of all that he possessed. His strength did not support him even when his soul carried him, how much less when the fires consume him.
“My iniquity ensnared me,” behold these are the words of my soul during my existence on earth. Therefore my soul is devastated; and like a man lying in disgrace I must return there naked.
I was carried away by my sins while in my heart I called out: “I have sinned,” that which is right, I did not desire, and to the obstinacy of my heart, I clung, to what avail is my crying now.
Bear the punishment of your guilt, my soul behold your sin confronts you, so, therefore, bear your disgrace. When I am perplexed about my iniquity, my thoughts say to me [“don’t despair] for we fall into the hand of Adonoy.”
Turn from the Throne of Your Dwelling, and open the door for me, for there is none beside You. O Rock, shield me, redeem me from my iniquity and teach me Your Torah. Hear my voice according to Your kindness; and on the day I stand before You do not turn away Your servant in anger.
See my affliction and answer me; behold I am in Your hand, and You Adonoy, be gracious to me. Send Your truth and Your kindness to the people [Israel] who cry unto You, even to me, I am your servant. Forgive our guilt, and do not reckon the sins of our youth, for our days are but a shadow.
Almighty! King! Who sits on the throne of mercy, governs with kindness forgives the iniquities of His people. He removes their sins one by one, increasing forgiveness to sinners, and pardon to transgressors. Acting righteously with all who are of flesh and spirit; not according to their wickedness does He repay them. Almighty! You instructed us to recite the thirteen Divine attributes; remember unto us this day the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes, as You made them known to the humble Moses of old, as it is written, “And Adonoy descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.
15
קהל וחזן:
Congregation and Chazzan:
16
וַיַּֽעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא:
And Adonoy passed before him [Moses], and proclaimed:
Adonoy, Adonoy, Almighty, Merciful, Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth. Keeper of kindness for thousands of generations, Endurer of iniquity, and transgression, and sin; and Acquitter of those who repent. “And pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.”
Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned, forgive us our King, for we have transgressed. “For You, my Master, are good and forgiving, and abounding in kindness to all who call upon You.”
Adonoy is great and highly extolled in the city of our God, the mountain of His Sanctuary. Beautiful in its panoramic vista, the joy of all the earth is Mount Zion, on the northern edge [of Jerusalem] the city of the great King. Do good as You see fit, to Zion, may You rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Turn away Your anger and Your rage from Your city, Jerusalem, Your holy mountain. To recount in Zion, the Name, Adonoy, and His praise in Jerusalem. And may Adonoy be pleased with the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem as in the days of old and in earlier years. The builder of Jerusalem is Adonoy, the banished ones of Israel, He will gather. For Adonoy will not cast off His people, and His inheritance, He will not abandon.
As a father has compassion on his children so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy. Deliverance is Adonoy’s; upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah! Adonoy of Hosts is with us, a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah! Adonoy of Hosts! fortunate is the man who trusts in You. Adonoy, deliver us; the King will answer us on the day we call.
“Please pardon the sins of this nation in accordance with the greatness of Your lovingkindness; and as You forgave this people from when it left Egypt until now.” And there it is said:
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וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:
“And Adonoy said, I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”
Incline Your ear, my God, and hear, open Your eyes and behold our desolate places, and the city which is called by Your Name; for it is not on account of our righteousness that we let fall our supplication before You, but because of Your great mercy. My Master, hear! My Master, pardon! My Master, listen and take action, do not delay! For Your sake, my God, because Your Name is proclaimed over Your city and over Your people.
עב. ע"פ א"ב. חתום שלמה אבן גבירול
This prayer was composed by R’ Shlomo Ibn Gabirol.
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ
Our God and God of our fathers!
שׁוֹמַמְתִּי בְּרֹב יְגוֹנִי לְיוֹם יִפָּקֵד זְדוֹנִי. מָה אֹמַר לַאדוֹנִי: אֻמְלַלְתִּי וְנֶאֱלַמְתִּי. בְּזָכְרִי אֲשֶׁר אָשַׁמְתִּי. בֹּשְׁתִּי וְגַם נִכְלַמְתִּי:
I am appalled in my great affliction, for on the day when my sins are reckoned, what will I plead before my Master? I am desolate and speechless when I remember how guilty I am, I am ashamed and disgraced.
בְּהֶבֶל כָּלוּ יָמַי. מִפְּנֵי בוֹשֶׁת עֲלוּמַי. אֵין שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמַי. גַּחֲלָתִי בִּי קוֹדַחַת. כִּי מְגִלָּה נִמְתַּחַת וְהַנּוֹשֶׁה בָּא לָקַחַת:
My days are consumed in vanity; because of the shame of my youth, there is no peace in my bones, I am burnt with fever because the scroll [of my debts] is unfolded, and the Creditor has come to collect.
דָּבַקְתִּי בְּמַחְשַׁכִּי, וְנַפְשִׁי לֹא־יָדְעָה כִּי גֵר וְתוֹשָׁב אָנֹכִי: הוֹי כִּי־יָבֹא יוֹמִי. אֲזַי אִיקַץ מֵחֲלוֹמִי. וְאָשׁוּבָה אֶל מְקוֹמִי:
I held fast to my darkness, and my soul did not consider that I am a stranger and a sojourner here. Woe unto me when my day comes, then I will awake from my dream, and return to my place.
וְעַל־חֶטְאִי אֲשֶׁר עָבַר. וְעַל־פִּשְׁעִי אֲשֶׁר גָּבַר מָה אָשִׁיב שֹׁלְחִי דָּבָר: זְדוֹן לִבִּי הִשִּׁיאַנִי. עַל עָווֹן אֲשֶׁר הֶלְאַנִי. מִבֶּטֶן קְרָאַנִי:
And then for the sins I did, and the transgression I committed, what excuse will I offer to Him [God] Who sent me here? The evil in my heart enticed me, and for the iniquity which exhausted me, I was met from the womb.
חוֹשֵׁב בְּנַפְשׁוֹ נָבָל. כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל־יוּבָל. וְהוּא לִקְבָרוֹת יוּבָל: טָפַל שֶׁקֶר בְּתוֹכוֹ. וְנָמֵס מִמַּהֲלָכוֹ. וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה:
The degenerate imagines in his soul that he is like a tree planted by a brook, while in fact he is carried to the grave. A false allusion clings to him, which melts away on his [final] journey, and he looks from side to side.
יֻשְׁלַךְ כְּאֶבֶן דּוּמָה. וְלֹא יִשָּׂא לְבֵית מְהוּמָה. מִכָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ מְאוּמָה: כֹּחוֹ לֹא סְמָכַתְהוּ. עֵת נַפְשׁוֹ נְשָֹאַתְהוּ. אַף כִּי אֵשׁ אֲכָלָתְהוּ:
He is cast [into the grave] like a silent stone, and carries into the grave nothing of all that he possessed. His strength did not support him even when his soul carried him, how much less when the fires consume him.
לְכָדַתְנִי אַשְׁמָתִי. הֲלֹא זֶה דְבַר נִשְׁמָתִי. עַד־הֱיוֹתִי עַל אַדְמָתִי: לְזֹאת נַפְשִׁי נְשַׁמָּה. כְּאִישׁ שׁוֹכֵב בִּכְלִמָּה. עָרֹם אָשׁוּב שָׁמָּה:
“My iniquity ensnared me,” behold these are the words of my soul during my existence on earth. Therefore my soul is devastated; and like a man lying in disgrace I must return there naked.
מְשׁוּגָתִי נָשָֹאתִי. וּבִלְבָבִי קָרָאתִי. אָנֹכִי חָטָאתִי: נְכוֹחָה לֹא חָשַׁקְתִּי. וּבִשְׁרִירוּת לִבִּי דָבַקְתִּי. מַה־לְּךָ כִּי נִזְעַקְתִּי:
I was carried away by my sins while in my heart I called out: “I have sinned,” that which is right, I did not desire, and to the obstinacy of my heart, I clung, to what avail is my crying now.
שְֹאִי נַפְשִׁי אַשְׁמָתֵךְ. רְאִי חַטָּאתֵךְ לְעֻמָּתֵךְ. גַּם אַתְּ שְֹאִי כְלִמָּתֵךְ: עֵת אֶדְאַג לַעֲוֹנָי. הֱשִׁיבוּנִי רַעְיוֹנָי. נִפְּלָה־נָא בְיַד־יְהֹוָה:
Bear the punishment of your guilt, my soul behold your sin confronts you, so, therefore, bear your disgrace. When I am perplexed about my iniquity, my thoughts say to me [“don’t despair] for we fall into the hand of Adonoy.”
פְּנֵה מִמְּכוֹן שִׁבְתֶּךָ וּפְתַח לִי דְלָתֶיךָ. כִּי אֵין בִּלְתֶּךָ: צוּר הָגֵן בַּעֲדֵנִי. וּמֵעֲוֹנִי פְּדֵנִי. וְתוֹרָתְךָ לַמְּדֵנִי: קוֹלִי שְׁמַע כְּחַסְדֶּךָ. בְּיוֹם אֶעֱמֹד נֶגְדְּךָ. אַל־תַּט בְּאַף עַבְדֶּךָ:
Turn from the Throne of Your Dwelling, and open the door for me, for there is none beside You. O Rock, shield me, redeem me from my iniquity and teach me Your Torah. Hear my voice according to Your kindness; and on the day I stand before You do not turn away Your servant in anger.
רְאֵה עָנְיִי וַעֲנֵנִי. אֲנִי בְיָדְךָ הִנֵּנִי. וְאַתָּה יְהֹוָה חָנֵּנִי: שְׁלַח אֲמִתְּךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ. לְעַם צוֹעֲקִים נֶגְדֶּךָ וְלִי אֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ: תִּסְלַח אַשְׁמָתֵנוּ. וְאַל־תִּפְקֹד עֲלוּמֵינוּ. כִּי כְצֵל יָמֵינוּ:
See my affliction and answer me; behold I am in Your hand, and You Adonoy, be gracious to me. Send Your truth and Your kindness to the people [Israel] who cry unto You, even to me, I am your servant. Forgive our guilt, and do not reckon the sins of our youth, for our days are but a shadow.
אֵל מֶֽלֶךְ. יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים. מִתְנַהֵג בַּחֲסִידוּת. מוֹחֵל עֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ. מַעֲבִיר רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן. מַרְבֶּה מְחִילָה לְחַטָּאִים וּסְלִיחָה לְפוֹשְׁעִים. עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקוֹת עִם כָּל בָּשָׂר וָרֽוּחַ. לֹא כְרָעָתָם תִּגְמוֹל: אֵל הוֹרֵיתָ לָנוּ לוֹמַר שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. וּזְכָר לָֽנוּ הַיּוֹם בְּרִית שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹדַֽעְתָּ לֶעָנָו מִקֶּֽדֶם. כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב וַיֵּרֶד יְהֹוָה בֶּֽעָנָן וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה:
Almighty! King! Who sits on the throne of mercy, governs with kindness forgives the iniquities of His people. He removes their sins one by one, increasing forgiveness to sinners, and pardon to transgressors. Acting righteously with all who are of flesh and spirit; not according to their wickedness does He repay them. Almighty! You instructed us to recite the thirteen Divine attributes; remember unto us this day the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes, as You made them known to the humble Moses of old, as it is written, “And Adonoy descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.
קהל וחזן:
Congregation and Chazzan:
וַיַּֽעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא:
And Adonoy passed before him [Moses], and proclaimed:
יְהֹוָה יְהֹוָה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם וְרַב חֶֽסֶד וֶֽאֱמֶת: נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד לָאֲלָפִים נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה וְנַקֵּה: וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֹנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:
Adonoy, Adonoy, Almighty, Merciful, Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth. Keeper of kindness for thousands of generations, Endurer of iniquity, and transgression, and sin; and Acquitter of those who repent. “And pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.”
סְלַח לָֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ כִּי חָטָֽאנוּ. מְחַל לָֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כִּי פָשָֽׁעְנוּ: כִּי אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי טוֹב וְסַלָּח וְרַב חֶֽסֶד לְכָל קֹרְאֶֽיךָ:
Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned, forgive us our King, for we have transgressed. “For You, my Master, are good and forgiving, and abounding in kindness to all who call upon You.”
גָּדוֹל יְהוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד בְּעִיר אֱלֹהֵינוּ הַר־קָדְשׁוֹ: יְפֵה נוֹף מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל־הָאָרֶץ הַר־צִיּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵי צָפוֹן קִרְיַת מֶלֶךְ רָב: הֵיטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶת־צִיּוֹן תִּבְנֶה חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם: יָשָׁב־נָא אַפְּךָ וַחֲמָתְךָ מֵעִירְךָ יְרוּשָׁלִַם הַר־קָדְשֶׁךָ: לְסַפֵּר בְּצִיּוֹן שֵׁם יְהוָה וּתְהִלָּתוֹ בִּירוּשָׁלִָם: וְעָרְבָה לַיהוָֹה מִנְחַת יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִָם כִּימֵי עוֹלָם וּכְשָׁנִים קַדְמֹנִיּוֹת: בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלִַם יְהוָֹה נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְכַנֵּס: כִּי לֹא־יִטֹּשׁ יְהוָֹה אֶת עַמּוֹ וְנַחֲלָתוֹ לֹא יַעֲזֹב:
Adonoy is great and highly extolled in the city of our God, the mountain of His Sanctuary. Beautiful in its panoramic vista, the joy of all the earth is Mount Zion, on the northern edge [of Jerusalem] the city of the great King. Do good as You see fit, to Zion, may You rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Turn away Your anger and Your rage from Your city, Jerusalem, Your holy mountain. To recount in Zion, the Name, Adonoy, and His praise in Jerusalem. And may Adonoy be pleased with the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem as in the days of old and in earlier years. The builder of Jerusalem is Adonoy, the banished ones of Israel, He will gather. For Adonoy will not cast off His people, and His inheritance, He will not abandon.
כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים כֵּן תְּרַחֵם יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ: לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה, עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה: יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ, אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה: יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת, אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּֽטֵֽחַ בָּךְ: יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה, הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ:
As a father has compassion on his children so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy. Deliverance is Adonoy’s; upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah! Adonoy of Hosts is with us, a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah! Adonoy of Hosts! fortunate is the man who trusts in You. Adonoy, deliver us; the King will answer us on the day we call.
סְלַח נָא לַעֲוֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה, כְּגֹֽדֶל חַסְדֶּֽךָ. וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָֽׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה. מִמִּצְרַֽיִם וְעַד הֵֽנָּה. וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:
“Please pardon the sins of this nation in accordance with the greatness of Your lovingkindness; and as You forgave this people from when it left Egypt until now.” And there it is said:
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:
“And Adonoy said, I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”
הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמָע, פְּקַח עֵינֶֽיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵֽינוּ, וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶֽיהָ כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקֹתֵֽינוּ, אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ, כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים: אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָֽעָה, אֲדֹנָי סְלָֽחָה, אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִֽׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה, אַל תְּאַחַר. לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי, כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא עַל עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּֽךָ:
Incline Your ear, my God, and hear, open Your eyes and behold our desolate places, and the city which is called by Your Name; for it is not on account of our righteousness that we let fall our supplication before You, but because of Your great mercy. My Master, hear! My Master, pardon! My Master, listen and take action, do not delay! For Your sake, my God, because Your Name is proclaimed over Your city and over Your people.