Your “friends”1“Friends,” the righteous are considered God’s “friends.” are dear, Master, Creator I shall wait for God and hope [for His help] [that You take vengeance] from the enemy that maltreats My nation. For this shall one pray. Let every pious person pray and let him don sackcloths2As a sign of suffering. to free the legs of those who are tied in chains. As of now Your servants are still smitten. “These are flogged.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
3
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
They smite and strike with whips [the people known as] My one nation.3I.e. Israel. My drink was blended with tears. From the deepest pits I called Your Name: Where [and when will I find] my hope? My hope was for peace. [But within our] homes there is fear. I did not hide from disgrace.4For I was accustomed to it. Beloved Israel is slaughtered upon the hills and mountains. “These are the sin-offerings.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
5
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
The sins have overpowered and they [therefore] torture Your inheritance.5I.e. Israel is tortured by the nations. And we are considered as sheep for slaughter. The best of us are trapped for our sins.6I.e. the righteous are punished for the sins of the rest. We are truly at fault for [that which happens to] our brothers. Our brothers, the unfortunate Jews, all their blood is spilled as waste, and their flesh is beaten with thorns and bramble. “These are those who are stoned.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
7
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
Your young are stoned before Your eyes on [sanctifying Your Name7“Sanctify Your name’—קִדוּשׁ הַשֵׁם—the act of giving one’s life for God. by] death, and the enemy has prepared for him instruments of death, and has said: “Truly the bitterness of death has reached you.”8I.e. your end has come. We hoped for light, but, He turned it to darkness of death. In the place of deep darkness, their voice [still] chirps.9‘In … chirps,” i.e. despite great despair we don’t cease to pray. And from the [great] sound of the crier my limbs tremble and turn weak. They withstood tests and were found to be purified. “These are those who are burned.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
9
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
They10The children who studied Torah. were burned [together] with their books, they were burned together on the pyre and they sanctified the Holy of Jacob Who is the only One. The entire nation answered as one that He is One. At [the word] One their souls departed [they who were] gentle and tender, and for this day their souls thirsted.11They always desired to give their lives for God. They gave themselves up to destroyers and murderers. “These are those who die by the sword.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
11
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
The killed have become many the student with his master. They were bitten by the snake, poisonous serpent, and scorpion and their blood mixed on the barren rock when many [of Israel] fell. Old and young and righteous people that are beloved to one another in their lifetime and not separated in their death; they accept Your yoke [then] are killed by strangulation. “These are those who are strangled.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
13
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
The strangled went for their reward and to their dwelling they come to rest.12I.e. they come to their share in the World to Come. [Yet], the enemy insults and abuses Your Name. And [from] the wounds of] my flesh they were not satisfied and they [continue] to wound us, “And also the dead do they divide.”13Even after having murdered, they ruthlessly defile the body. They slice chunks of flesh from the circumcised14I.e. the nation that is circumcised—Israel. naked, they scattered them and rolled them in [their] blood; and ridiculed them and there was none to embarrass them.15I.e. the murderous nations. “These are those who are exiled.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
15
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
Those who are exiled, their enemies conspire against them to [coerce them] to consult the dead16‘Consult the dead’—a pagan practice. [something] which is a perversion in My eyes. [When they saw that their efforts were fruitless], they said: “Remove the curser [of idols],” remove him from my presence.”17To be put to death. Oh! would that we died at the hands of God.18Rather than at the hands of our enemies. God, in Your hands are the dead in piles and bundles. And they [the enemies] arranged pyres to do evil to the throngs. Let their blood be gathered before You!19I.e., avenge their blood. “These are the public sin-offerings.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
17
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
The congregation,20Of Israel. set themselves afire to be tested,21To test their own commitment to God. and the youngsters did not procrastinate from sanctifying [His Name] by questioning [God’s motives]. They were removed from the Chamber of Sheep22‘They removed … sheep’—they offered even their young as sacrifices. without examination,23I.e. without the necessary inspection of the sacrifices; meant here to express the lack of hesitation in sanctifying His Holy Name. for there they sacrificed righteous sacrifices. Wrap Yourself in righteousness and justice, to avenge me, for they have devastated the inheritor24The righteous of Israel who inherit and pass down the ways of Israel to future generations. and [thus] extinguished my ember. Why is my pain constant, my wound so serious? And were it only that we were sold to slavery I would have remained silent.
19
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
I remained silent as a deaf-mute while the enemy abused and disgraced [You]. They ceased fearing You and followed emptiness.25I.e. idol worship. He (the enemy) refused gratuity or to accept ransom26He refused to be bribed and give up his ruthless desire for murder. for [his goal is] to destroy the soul. The destroyer sliced her27I.e. Israel’s. pregnant ones, to destroy his offspring and they kneeled [expelling] their children through the fissures. And [they destroyer] said: “Where is his God, that can save him from me? And woe to the one [nation] that falls without anyone to raise him.”
21
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
[God] rise up to raise her.28I.e. Israel. How long will they [continue to] disgrace me; that whoever finds me slaughters me? Therefore, I cry with bitter tears, [thus], do not rush to console me, [for] I have soiled my radiance with dirt. My strength was cut down by pitfalls that strangers dug, and they buried them alive in the perforation of the rocks. The earth covered them [where] they died amongst the murdered. “These are those that are buried.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
23
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
The buried and the slaughtered, may they rise [to You] as perfect incense to give us life, a remnant, and redemption;29‘The buried … redemption’ i.e. let the merit of those who gave their life to sanctify Your Name serve to keep alive and bring redemption to those of us who are left. and let the stone be removed from the wells of the suffering.30‘And let … suffering’—a play on the story when Jacob (בני יעקן) removed the stone from the well where he met Rachel. ‘יעקן‘ is derived from ‘עָקָא‘ i.e.—suffering. Let the righteous one rejoice when he sees the day of vengeance. Let Him pay vengeance to His enemies, Edom and Ishmael, for they profaned my holy one31A reference to R’ Ishmael the High Priest. and his associate Rabbon Simon b. Gamliel. Be not silent over their [spilt] blood and do not rest, O God. Avenge the vengeance of the Israelites!
25
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
Remember to us the covenant of the Patriarchs, as You promised, “And I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember,” and the land I will remember.
נד. לרבינו יואל ב"ר יצחק הלוי
This prayer is based on the Midrash of the ten martyrs who were killed by the Romans. It was written by Rav Yoel ben Yitzchok HaLevi.
יָקְרוּ רֵעֶיךָ רַב מְחוֹלֵל. אֶדּוֹם לַיהֹוָה וְאֶתְחוֹלֵל. בְּאוֹיֵב אֲשֶׁר בְּעַמִּי מִסְתּוֹלֵל. וְעַל זֹאת יִתְפַּלֵּל: יִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל־חָסִיד וְיִלְבַּשׁ שַׂקִּים. לְפַתֵּחַ רַגְלֵי אֲסוּרֵי בְזִקִּים. וְעַתָּה הִנֵּה עֲבָדֶיךָ לוֹקִים. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן הַלּוֹקִין:
Your “friends”1“Friends,” the righteous are considered God’s “friends.” are dear, Master, Creator I shall wait for God and hope [for His help] [that You take vengeance] from the enemy that maltreats My nation. For this shall one pray. Let every pious person pray and let him don sackcloths2As a sign of suffering. to free the legs of those who are tied in chains. As of now Your servants are still smitten. “These are flogged.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
לוֹקִין וְחוֹבְטִין בְּשׁוֹטִים יְחִידָתִי. שִׁקֻּוַי בִּבְכִי מָסָכְתִּי. מִבּוֹר תַּחְתִּיּוֹת שִׁמְךָ קָרָאתִי. אַיֵּה אֵפוֹא תִקְוָתִי: תִּקְוָתִי לְשָׁלוֹם וּמֵחֲדָרִים אֵימוֹת. וּפָנַי לֹא הִסְתַּרְתִּי מִכְּלִמּוֹת. הַצְּבִי יִשְׂרָאֵל חָלָל עַל־בָּמוֹת. אֵלּוּ הֵן הָאֲשָׁמוֹת:
They smite and strike with whips [the people known as] My one nation.3I.e. Israel. My drink was blended with tears. From the deepest pits I called Your Name: Where [and when will I find] my hope? My hope was for peace. [But within our] homes there is fear. I did not hide from disgrace.4For I was accustomed to it. Beloved Israel is slaughtered upon the hills and mountains. “These are the sin-offerings.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
אֲשָׁמוֹת עָצְמוּ וְנַחֲלָתְךָ יְעַנּוּ. וְכַצֹּאן לַטֶּבַח נֶחְשַׁבְנוּ. וְטוּבֵינוּ נִתְפְּשׂוּ בַּעֲווֹנֵינוּ. אֲבָל אֲשֵׁמִים אֲנַחְנוּ עַל־אַחֵינוּ: אַחֵינוּ הַיְּהוּדִים הָאֻמְלָלִים. כֹּל שֻׁפַּךְ דָּמָם כִּגְלָלִים. וְנִדַּשׁ בְּשָׂרָם אֶת־הַקּוֹצִים וְהַחֲרוּלִים. אֵלּוּ הֵן הַנִּסְקָלִין:
The sins have overpowered and they [therefore] torture Your inheritance.5I.e. Israel is tortured by the nations. And we are considered as sheep for slaughter. The best of us are trapped for our sins.6I.e. the righteous are punished for the sins of the rest. We are truly at fault for [that which happens to] our brothers. Our brothers, the unfortunate Jews, all their blood is spilled as waste, and their flesh is beaten with thorns and bramble. “These are those who are stoned.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
נִסְקָלִין לְעֵינֶיךָ עֲלָמוֹת עֲלֵי־מָוֶת. וְהֵכִין לוֹ אוֹיֵב כְּלֵי־מָוֶת. וַיֹּאמֶר אָכֵן סָר מַר־הַמָּוֶת. וְקִוִּינוּ לָאוֹר וְשָׂמָהּ לְצַלְמָוֶת: לְצַלְמָוֶת בִּמְקוֹם־חֹשֶׁךְ קוֹלָם מְצַפְצְפִים. וּמִקּוֹל הַקּוֹרֵא נָעוּ אֵבָרַי וּמִתְרוֹפְפִים. עָמְדוּ בְנִסָּיוֹן וְנִמְצְאוּ צְרוּפִים. אֵלּוּ הֵן הַנִּשְׂרָפִין:
Your young are stoned before Your eyes on [sanctifying Your Name7“Sanctify Your name’—קִדוּשׁ הַשֵׁם—the act of giving one’s life for God. by] death, and the enemy has prepared for him instruments of death, and has said: “Truly the bitterness of death has reached you.”8I.e. your end has come. We hoped for light, but, He turned it to darkness of death. In the place of deep darkness, their voice [still] chirps.9‘In … chirps,” i.e. despite great despair we don’t cease to pray. And from the [great] sound of the crier my limbs tremble and turn weak. They withstood tests and were found to be purified. “These are those who are burned.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
נִשְׂרָפִין בְּסִפְרֵיהֶן כְּרָכוּם עַל־מוֹקְדָם יַחַד. וְהִקְדִּישׁוּ אֶת־קְדוֹשׁ יַעֲקֹב הַמְיֻחָד. וַיַּעֲנוּ כָּל־הָעָם קוֹל אֶחָד. וְהוּא בְאֶחָד: בְּאֶחָד יָצְאוּ נִשְׁמָתָם רַכִּים וַעֲנֻגִּים. וּלְזֶה הַיּוֹם נַפְשׁוֹתָם עוֹרְגִים. מָסְרוּ עַצְמָם לְחָרְמִין וְלַהַרָגִין. אֵלּוּ הֵן הַנֶּהֱרָגִין:
They10The children who studied Torah. were burned [together] with their books, they were burned together on the pyre and they sanctified the Holy of Jacob Who is the only One. The entire nation answered as one that He is One. At [the word] One their souls departed [they who were] gentle and tender, and for this day their souls thirsted.11They always desired to give their lives for God. They gave themselves up to destroyers and murderers. “These are those who die by the sword.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
נֶהֱרָגִין רָבוּ. תַּלְמִיד עִם־רָב. נְשָׁכָם נָחָשׁ שָׂרָף וְעַקְרָב. וְדָמָם עַל־צְחִיחַ סֶלַע נִתְעָרָב. וְנָפַל מִמֶּנּוּ רָב: רַב וְצָעִיר וַאֲנָשִׁים צַדִּיקִים. הַנְּעִימִים בְּחַיֵּיהֶם וּבְמוֹתָם לֹא־פוֹרְקִים. עֻלָּךְ מְקַבְּלִים מוּמָתִים תַּשְׁנוּקִים. אֵלּוּ הֵן הַנֶּחֱנָקִין:
The killed have become many the student with his master. They were bitten by the snake, poisonous serpent, and scorpion and their blood mixed on the barren rock when many [of Israel] fell. Old and young and righteous people that are beloved to one another in their lifetime and not separated in their death; they accept Your yoke [then] are killed by strangulation. “These are those who are strangled.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
נֶחֱנָקִין יָצְאוּ לְפָעֳלָם וְלִמְעוֹנָתָם יִרְבָּצוּן. הָאוֹיֵב מְחָרֵף וּלְשִׁמְךָ יְנַאֲצוּן. וּמִבְּשָׂרִי לֹא יִשְׂבְּעוּן וְיִמְחָצוּן. וְגַם אֶת־הַמֵּת יֶחֱצוּן: יֶחֱצוּן נְתָחִים נְתָחִים אֲמוּלִים. וּשְׁטָחוּם עֲרֻמִּים בְּדָמִים מְגֻלָּלִים. וְיִלְעֲגוּ לָמוֹ וְאֵין מַכְלִים. אֵלּוּ הֵן הַגּוֹלִים:
The strangled went for their reward and to their dwelling they come to rest.12I.e. they come to their share in the World to Come. [Yet], the enemy insults and abuses Your Name. And [from] the wounds of] my flesh they were not satisfied and they [continue] to wound us, “And also the dead do they divide.”13Even after having murdered, they ruthlessly defile the body. They slice chunks of flesh from the circumcised14I.e. the nation that is circumcised—Israel. naked, they scattered them and rolled them in [their] blood; and ridiculed them and there was none to embarrass them.15I.e. the murderous nations. “These are those who are exiled.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
גּוֹלִים, נִתְנַכְּלוּ לָמוֹ מְדָנַי. דְּרֹשׁ אֶל־הַמֵּתִים הַנִּקְלָה בְּעֵינַי. וְנָמוּ הוֹצֵא אֶת־הַמְקַלֵּל שַׁלַּח מֵעַל פָּנַי. מִי־יִתֵּן מוּתֵנוּ בְּיַד יְהֹוָה: יְהֹוָה בְּיָדְךָ מִמְתִים חֹמֶר וְצָבוּר. וְסִדְּרוּ מַעַרְכוֹת־אֵשׁ לְחוֹבַת צִבּוּר. וְדָמָם לְפָנֶיךָ יְהִי צָבוּר. אֵלּוּ הֵן חַטֹּאת הַצִּבּוּר:
Those who are exiled, their enemies conspire against them to [coerce them] to consult the dead16‘Consult the dead’—a pagan practice. [something] which is a perversion in My eyes. [When they saw that their efforts were fruitless], they said: “Remove the curser [of idols],” remove him from my presence.”17To be put to death. Oh! would that we died at the hands of God.18Rather than at the hands of our enemies. God, in Your hands are the dead in piles and bundles. And they [the enemies] arranged pyres to do evil to the throngs. Let their blood be gathered before You!19I.e., avenge their blood. “These are the public sin-offerings.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
צִבּוּר אֵשׁ שָׁלְחוּ בְיָדוֹ לְהִבָּדֵק. וְלֹא אֵחֲרוּ הַבָּנִים לְקַדֵּשׁ מִלְּדַקְדֵּק. וְהוֹצִיאָם מִלִּשְׁכַּת הַטְּלָאִים בְּלִי בֶדֶק. כִּי שָׁם יִזְבְּחוּ זִבְחֵי צֶדֶק: צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט תַּעֲטֶה לִנְקֹם נִקְמָתִי. כִּי הִשְׁמִידוּ הַיּוֹרֵשׁ וְכִבּוּ גַּחַלְתִּי. לָמָּה כְּאֵבִי נֶצַח אֲנוּשָׁה מַכָּתִי. וְאִלּוּ לַעֲבָדִים וְלִשְׁפָחוֹת נִמְכַּרְנוּ הֶחֱרַשְׁתִּי:
The congregation,20Of Israel. set themselves afire to be tested,21To test their own commitment to God. and the youngsters did not procrastinate from sanctifying [His Name] by questioning [God’s motives]. They were removed from the Chamber of Sheep22‘They removed … sheep’—they offered even their young as sacrifices. without examination,23I.e. without the necessary inspection of the sacrifices; meant here to express the lack of hesitation in sanctifying His Holy Name. for there they sacrificed righteous sacrifices. Wrap Yourself in righteousness and justice, to avenge me, for they have devastated the inheritor24The righteous of Israel who inherit and pass down the ways of Israel to future generations. and [thus] extinguished my ember. Why is my pain constant, my wound so serious? And were it only that we were sold to slavery I would have remained silent.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
הֶחֱרַשְׁתִּי חָרָשׁ וְאוֹיֵב מְנָאֵץ וּמְנַבֵּל. לִנְטֹשׁ יִרְאָתְךָ וְלֶכֶת אַחֲרֵי הַהֶבֶל. וַיְּמָאֵן בְּבֶצַע וְכוֹפֶר לְקַבֵּל. כִּי נֶפֶשׁ הוּא חוֹבֵל: חוֹבֵל בִּקַּע הָרִיּוֹתֶיהָ בֶּן־בִּטְנֵמוֹ. וְהִכְרַעְנָה יַלְדֵיהֶן תִּפְלַחְמוֹ. וַיֹּאמֶר אַיֵּה אֱלֹהֵימוֹ וּמִיָּדִי יוֹשִׁיעֵמוֹ. וְאִי לוֹ הָאֶחָד שֶׁיִּפּוֹל וְאֵין לַהֲקִימוֹ:
I remained silent as a deaf-mute while the enemy abused and disgraced [You]. They ceased fearing You and followed emptiness.25I.e. idol worship. He (the enemy) refused gratuity or to accept ransom26He refused to be bribed and give up his ruthless desire for murder. for [his goal is] to destroy the soul. The destroyer sliced her27I.e. Israel’s. pregnant ones, to destroy his offspring and they kneeled [expelling] their children through the fissures. And [they destroyer] said: “Where is his God, that can save him from me? And woe to the one [nation] that falls without anyone to raise him.”
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
לַהֲקִימָהּ קוּמָה עַד־מָתַי יְנַאֲצוּנִי. וְהָיָה כָל מוֹצְאִי יַהַרְגֵנִי. לָכֵן אֲמָרֵר בִּבְכִי אַל־תָּאִיצוּ לְנַחֲמֵנִי. וְעוֹלַלְתִּי בֶּעָפָר קַרְנִי: קַרְנִי נִגְדְּעָה בְּגוּמִין אֲשֶׁר־כָּרוּ זָרִים. וּקְבָרוּם חַיִּים בְּנִקְרַת הַצּוּרִים. וַתְּכַס עֲלֵיהֶם הָאָרֶץ וּמֵתוּ בֵּין הַגְּזָרִים. אֵלּוּ הֵן הַנִּקְבָּרִים:
[God] rise up to raise her.28I.e. Israel. How long will they [continue to] disgrace me; that whoever finds me slaughters me? Therefore, I cry with bitter tears, [thus], do not rush to console me, [for] I have soiled my radiance with dirt. My strength was cut down by pitfalls that strangers dug, and they buried them alive in the perforation of the rocks. The earth covered them [where] they died amongst the murdered. “These are those that are buried.”2*“These are flogged.” Each verse ends with a punishment meted out by the בֵּית דִין—the Jewish court.
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
נִקְבָּרִין הֲרוּגָה יַעֲלוּ כִּקְטֹרֶת מְתֻקָּן. לָתֵת לָנוּ מִחְיָה שְׁאֵרִית וּפֻרְקָן. וְיָגֶל אֶבֶן מִבְּאֵרוֹת בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן. יִשְׂמַח צַדִּיק כִּי חָזָה יוֹם נָקָם: נָקָם יָשִׁיב לְצָרָיו אֱדוֹם וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל. כִּי חִלְּלוּ מְקֻדָּשִׁי וַחֲבֵרוֹ רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל. אַל־תֶּחֱרַשׁ לְדָמָם וְאַל תִּשְׁקֹט אֵל. נְקֹם נִקְמַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:
The buried and the slaughtered, may they rise [to You] as perfect incense to give us life, a remnant, and redemption;29‘The buried … redemption’ i.e. let the merit of those who gave their life to sanctify Your Name serve to keep alive and bring redemption to those of us who are left. and let the stone be removed from the wells of the suffering.30‘And let … suffering’—a play on the story when Jacob (בני יעקן) removed the stone from the well where he met Rachel. ‘יעקן‘ is derived from ‘עָקָא‘ i.e.—suffering. Let the righteous one rejoice when he sees the day of vengeance. Let Him pay vengeance to His enemies, Edom and Ishmael, for they profaned my holy one31A reference to R’ Ishmael the High Priest. and his associate Rabbon Simon b. Gamliel. Be not silent over their [spilt] blood and do not rest, O God. Avenge the vengeance of the Israelites!
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:
We have sinned to You, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator.
זְכוֹר לָֽנוּ בְּרִית אָבוֹת כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַֽרְתָּ. וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר וְהָאָֽרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר:
Remember to us the covenant of the Patriarchs, as You promised, “And I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember,” and the land I will remember.