[Our] Father, You created us with compassion and pardon,1When God created man, He knew that man required His mercy and forgiveness. we are the children of Your holy covenant, and You have never exchanged us;2For any other nation. even in our exile, You are with us, as You have given us hope.3By promising not to leave us even in the worst of times. And [now] pardon our iniquity and our sin and take us for Your inheritance.
Wash away the blood and filth4Of our sins. bring our judgment into light; let our sin be hidden and not be found to make us repulsive and let our iniquity be sought and none be found, As You clearly stated: “I will forgive those that I will spare.”
The foulness [of our sins] is great and the aroma of our sacrifices5“ניחוח ממלח“ lit. the salted pleasant odor—all sacrifices were salted before being burnt on the altar as a pleasant fragrance to God. (v. Vayikra 2, 13) has ceased.6Since the destruction of the Temple. The covering of soil [caused by] the filth of the moist creeping thing,7A ritually unclean person who has any foreign matter covering any part of his body cannot become ritually clean unless he first removes the impurity. let that become cleansed by immersion in the flow of Your waters, for You are Adonoy, good and forgiving.
Since we sinned we were exiled and from corpulence [we became] emaciated for the impurity is abundant and there is none [priest] to sprinkle us.8With the mixture of water and ashes from the red heifer—the procedure used in purifying one who was contaminated with the ritual uncleanness of a dead body. For Your sake, Adonoy, as [You did] then and before this, forgive, please, the sins of this nation.
They are too abundant to relate— the great goodness that You have bestowed. You led the nation [even] when it was rebellious towards You. Please, carry their burden as You carried it in previous days, and forgive Your nation that has sinned to You.
Upon us, from on high let His holy spirit pour forth, so that we may separate ourselves [from sin], and sanctify [us] and [a] new [heart] create for us. The purification and the cleansing [from sin]— order that they be without suffering, for forgiveness is with You9It is in Your hands to forgive. so that You shall be feared.
Stand upright the fallen one.10“Fallen one”—the Jewish nation. [Refrain] from adding to our misfortune. [With] a spirit of kindness satiate our hunger. Annihilation has come [to those who] rebuilt us at the time we were weakened.11“To those … rebuilt us” i.e. the righteous of every generation. For the sake of Your Name, Adonoy, forgive our sins.
We have become as leftovers12“Leftovers”—the remains at the bottom of the pot. and who, like You, can forgive [such as these]. Not [based] upon our righteousness will we attempt to seek a sign,13“A sign”—that You have forgiven us. but upon your virtue of abundant compassion we will send14נפיל—lit. “throw.” our plea. Adonoy, listen! Adonoy, forgive! Adonoy, pay attention [to us] and do!
In Your fear and in Your righteous Torah, establish our footsteps to tread, for through our sins we have become too weak to take a step. Please fulfill Your good promise to support [us]: “For I shall forgive their iniquities, and their sins I will no longer remember.”
You know the hidden of every blood and flesh.15Blood and flesh, i.e. human. [We committed] iniquities [despite] that we knew them and they are with us everywhere.16And—everywhere, i.e. we cannot escape our sins. We, hereby, come before You [that we may] find redemption and consolation, for You are the forgiving God gracious and compassionate.
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.
13
קהל וחזן:
Congregation and Chazzan:
14
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.”
Why do You stand from afar, Adonoy, hiding Yourself in times of trouble? Return for the sake of Your servants the tribes of Your inheritance. You will grant truth to Jacob, kindliness to Abraham. As You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
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.
לז. מיוסד על פי א"ב. חתום שלמה הבבלי.
This prayer was composed by Rabbi Solomon HaBavli.
אָב לְרַחֵם וְרַב סְלֹחַ חוֹלַלְתָּנוּ. בְּנֵי בְרִית קֹדֶשׁ וְלֹא חִלַּלְתָּנוּ. גּוֹלִים וְאַתָּה בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר יִחַלְתָּנוּ. וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֹנֵנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵנוּ וּנְחַלְתָּנוּ:
[Our] Father, You created us with compassion and pardon,1When God created man, He knew that man required His mercy and forgiveness. we are the children of Your holy covenant, and You have never exchanged us;2For any other nation. even in our exile, You are with us, as You have given us hope.3By promising not to leave us even in the worst of times. And [now] pardon our iniquity and our sin and take us for Your inheritance.
דָּם וְגִאוּל תָּדִיחַ, דִּין תָּאִיר. הַחֵטְא יָעֳלַם וּבַל יִמָּצֵא לְהַכְעִיר. וְעָוֹן יְבֻקַּשׁ וְאֵינֶנּוּ כְּנַמְתָּ לְהַבְאִיר. כִּי אֶסְלַח לַאֲשֶׁר אַשְׁאִיר:
Wash away the blood and filth4Of our sins. bring our judgment into light; let our sin be hidden and not be found to make us repulsive and let our iniquity be sought and none be found, As You clearly stated: “I will forgive those that I will spare.”
זַהַם מְרֻבָּה וּפָסַק נִיחוֹחַ מְמֻלָּח. חֲצִיצַת חֲפִיפַת לִכְלוּךְ שֶׁרֶץ הַלָּח. טְבִילַת טָהֳרַת צִנּוֹר מֵימֶיךָ יְקַלָּח. כִּי אַתָּה יְהֹוָה טוֹב וְסַלָּח:
The foulness [of our sins] is great and the aroma of our sacrifices5“ניחוח ממלח“ lit. the salted pleasant odor—all sacrifices were salted before being burnt on the altar as a pleasant fragrance to God. (v. Vayikra 2, 13) has ceased.6Since the destruction of the Temple. The covering of soil [caused by] the filth of the moist creeping thing,7A ritually unclean person who has any foreign matter covering any part of his body cannot become ritually clean unless he first removes the impurity. let that become cleansed by immersion in the flow of Your waters, for You are Adonoy, good and forgiving.
יַעַן סָרַחְנוּ נִדַּחְנוּ וּמִשְׁמַן רָזֶה. כִּי רַבָּה הַטֻּמְאָה וְאֵין מַזֶּה. לְמַעַנְךָ יְהֹוָה כְּאָז וְלְפָנִים מִזֶּה. סְלַח נָא לַעֲוֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה:
Since we sinned we were exiled and from corpulence [we became] emaciated for the impurity is abundant and there is none [priest] to sprinkle us.8With the mixture of water and ashes from the red heifer—the procedure used in purifying one who was contaminated with the ritual uncleanness of a dead body. For Your sake, Adonoy, as [You did] then and before this, forgive, please, the sins of this nation.
מִסַּפֵּר עָצְמוּ חַסְדֵי רֹב גְּמוּלֶיךָ. נִהַגְתָּ לְעַם בֵּית מֶרִי לְמוּלֶךָ. סִבְלָם נָא תִשָּׂא כְּמִקֶּדֶם נְטוּלֶיךָ. וְסָלַחְתָּ לְעַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר חָטְאוּ לְךָ:
They are too abundant to relate— the great goodness that You have bestowed. You led the nation [even] when it was rebellious towards You. Please, carry their burden as You carried it in previous days, and forgive Your nation that has sinned to You.
עָלֵינוּ מִמָּרוֹם רוּחַ קָדְשׁוֹ יֵעָרֶה. פָּרוֹשׁ וְהִתְקַדֵּשׁ וְחָדָשׁ לָנוּ יִבָּרֵא. צֵרוֹף וּמֵרוֹק בְּלִי יִסּוּרִין תּוֹרֶה. כִּי עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא:
Upon us, from on high let His holy spirit pour forth, so that we may separate ourselves [from sin], and sanctify [us] and [a] new [heart] create for us. The purification and the cleansing [from sin]— order that they be without suffering, for forgiveness is with You9It is in Your hands to forgive. so that You shall be feared.
קוֹמֵם נְפוּלָה עוֹד מִלְּהוֹסִיף דַּאֲבוֹנֵנוּ. רוּחַ חֵן רַוֵּה שַׂבַּע רַעֲבוֹנֵנוּ. שָׁלְמוּ תַּמוּ עֵת רִעוּעַ בּוֹנֵנוּ. לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ יְהֹוָה וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲווֹנֵנוּ:
Stand upright the fallen one.10“Fallen one”—the Jewish nation. [Refrain] from adding to our misfortune. [With] a spirit of kindness satiate our hunger. Annihilation has come [to those who] rebuilt us at the time we were weakened.11“To those … rebuilt us” i.e. the righteous of every generation. For the sake of Your Name, Adonoy, forgive our sins.
שִׁירַיִם הִנֵּנוּ וּמִי כָמוֹךָ נוֹשֵׂא. לֹא עַל צִדְקוֹתֵינוּ אוֹת נְנַסֶּה. מִדַּת הֲמוֹן רַחֲמֶיךָ נַפִּיל מַחֲסֶה. אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָעָה אֲדֹנָי סְלָחָה אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה:
We have become as leftovers12“Leftovers”—the remains at the bottom of the pot. and who, like You, can forgive [such as these]. Not [based] upon our righteousness will we attempt to seek a sign,13“A sign”—that You have forgiven us. but upon your virtue of abundant compassion we will send14נפיל—lit. “throw.” our plea. Adonoy, listen! Adonoy, forgive! Adonoy, pay attention [to us] and do!
בְּיִרְאָתְךָ וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ הָכֵן פְּעָמֵינוּ לִצְעֹד. בְּיַד עֲוֹנֵינוּ כִּי כָשַׁלְנוּ לִמְעֹד. נָא־יֵאָמֵן דְּבָרְךָ הַטּוֹב לִסְעֹד. כִּי אֶסְלַח לַעֲווֹנָם. וּלְחַטָּאתָם לֹא אֶזְכַּר־עוֹד:
In Your fear and in Your righteous Torah, establish our footsteps to tread, for through our sins we have become too weak to take a step. Please fulfill Your good promise to support [us]: “For I shall forgive their iniquities, and their sins I will no longer remember.”
יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלוּם כָּל דָּם וּלְחוּם חַטֹּאתֵינוּ יְדַעֲנוּם וְאִתָּנוּ בְּכָל תְּחוּם. הִנְנוּ אָתָאנוּ־לָךְ מְצֹא כֹפֶר וְתַנְחוּם. וְאַתָּה אֱלוֹהַּ סְלִיחוֹת חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם:
You know the hidden of every blood and flesh.15Blood and flesh, i.e. human. [We committed] iniquities [despite] that we knew them and they are with us everywhere.16And—everywhere, i.e. we cannot escape our sins. We, hereby, come before You [that we may] find redemption and consolation, for You are the forgiving God gracious and compassionate.
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.”
לָמָה יְהוָה תַּעֲמֹד בְּרָחוֹק תַּעְלִים לְעִתּוֹת בַּצָּרָה׃ שׁוּב לְמַעַן עֲבָדֶיךָ שִׁבְטֵי נַחֲלָתֶךָ׃ תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת לְיַעֲקֹב חֶסֶד לְאַבְרָהָם אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לַאֲבֹתֵינוּ מִימֵי קֶדֶם׃
Why do You stand from afar, Adonoy, hiding Yourself in times of trouble? Return for the sake of Your servants the tribes of Your inheritance. You will grant truth to Jacob, kindliness to Abraham. As You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
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.