ליום שלישי דעשי"ת 6

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

I am appalled in my great affliction,

לְיוֹם יִפָּקֵד זְדוֹנִי.

for on the day when my sins are reckoned,

מָה אֹמַר לַאדוֹנִי:

what will I plead before my Master?

אֻמְלַלְתִּי וְנֶאֱלַמְתִּי.

I am desolate and speechless

בְּזָכְרִי אֲשֶׁר אָשַׁמְתִּי.

when I remember how guilty I am,

בֹּשְׁתִּי וְגַם נִכְלַמְתִּי:

I am ashamed and disgraced.

בְּהֶבֶל כָּלוּ יָמַי.

My days are consumed in vanity;

מִפְּנֵי בוֹשֶׁת עֲלוּמַי.

because of the shame of my youth,

אֵין שָׁלוֹם בַּעֲצָמַי.

there is no peace in my bones,

גַּחֲלָתִי בִּי קוֹדַחַת.

I am burnt with fever

כִּי מְגִלָּה נִמְתַּחַת

because the scroll [of my debts] is unfolded,

וְהַנּוֹשֶׁה בָּא לָקַחַת:

and the Creditor has come to collect.

דָּבַקְתִּי בְּמַחְשַׁכִּי,

I held fast to my darkness,

וְנַפְשִׁי לֹא־יָדְעָה

and my soul did not consider

כִּי גֵר וְתוֹשָׁב אָנֹכִי:

that I am a stranger and a sojourner here.

הוֹי כִּי־יָבֹא יוֹמִי.

Woe unto me when my day comes,

אֲזַי אִיקַץ מֵחֲלוֹמִי.

then I will awake from my dream,

וְאָשׁוּבָה אֶל מְקוֹמִי:

and return to my place.

וְעַל־חֶטְאִי אֲשֶׁר עָבַר.

And then for the sins I did,

וְעַל־פִּשְׁעִי אֲשֶׁר גָּבַר

and the transgression I committed,

מָה אָשִׁיב

what excuse will I offer

שֹׁלְחִי דָּבָר:

to Him [God] Who sent me here?

זְדוֹן לִבִּי הִשִּׁיאַנִי.

The evil in my heart enticed me,

עַל עָווֹן אֲשֶׁר הֶלְאַנִי.

and for the iniquity which exhausted me,

מִבֶּטֶן קְרָאַנִי:

I was met from the womb.

חוֹשֵׁב בְּנַפְשׁוֹ נָבָל.

The degenerate imagines in his soul

כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל־יוּבָל.

that he is like a tree planted by a brook,

וְהוּא לִקְבָרוֹת יוּבָל:

while in fact he is carried to the grave.

טָפַל שֶׁקֶר בְּתוֹכוֹ.

A false allusion clings to him,

וְנָמֵס מִמַּהֲלָכוֹ.

which melts away on his [final] journey,

וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה:

and he looks from side to side.

יֻשְׁלַךְ

He is cast [into the grave]

כְּאֶבֶן דּוּמָה.

like a silent stone,

וְלֹא יִשָּׂא לְבֵית מְהוּמָה.

and carries into the grave nothing

מִכָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ מְאוּמָה:

of all that he possessed.

כֹּחוֹ לֹא סְמָכַתְהוּ.

His strength did not support him

עֵת נַפְשׁוֹ נְשָֹאַתְהוּ.

even when his soul carried him,

אַף כִּי אֵשׁ אֲכָלָתְהוּ:

how much less when the fires consume him.

לְכָדַתְנִי אַשְׁמָתִי.

“My iniquity ensnared me,”

הֲלֹא זֶה דְבַר נִשְׁמָתִי.

behold these are the words of my soul

עַד־הֱיוֹתִי עַל אַדְמָתִי:

during my existence on earth.

לְזֹאת נַפְשִׁי נְשַׁמָּה.

Therefore my soul is devastated;

כְּאִישׁ שׁוֹכֵב בִּכְלִמָּה.

and like a man lying in disgrace

עָרֹם אָשׁוּב שָׁמָּה:

I must return there naked.

מְשׁוּגָתִי נָשָֹאתִי.

I was carried away by my sins

וּבִלְבָבִי קָרָאתִי.

while in my heart I called out:

אָנֹכִי חָטָאתִי:

“I have sinned,”

נְכוֹחָה לֹא חָשַׁקְתִּי.

that which is right, I did not desire,

וּבִשְׁרִירוּת לִבִּי דָבַקְתִּי.

and to the obstinacy of my heart, I clung,

מַה־לְּךָ כִּי נִזְעַקְתִּי:

to what avail is my crying now.

שְֹאִי נַפְשִׁי אַשְׁמָתֵךְ.

Bear the punishment of your guilt, my soul

רְאִי חַטָּאתֵךְ לְעֻמָּתֵךְ.

behold your sin confronts you,

גַּם אַתְּ שְֹאִי כְלִמָּתֵךְ:

so, therefore, bear your disgrace.

עֵת אֶדְאַג לַעֲוֹנָי.

When I am perplexed about my iniquity,

הֱשִׁיבוּנִי רַעְיוֹנָי.

my thoughts say to me [“don’t despair]

נִפְּלָה־נָא בְיַד־יְהֹוָה:

for we fall into the hand of Adonoy.”

פְּנֵה מִמְּכוֹן שִׁבְתֶּךָ

Turn from the Throne of Your Dwelling,

וּפְתַח לִי דְלָתֶיךָ.

and open the door for me,

כִּי אֵין בִּלְתֶּךָ:

for there is none beside You.

צוּר הָגֵן בַּעֲדֵנִי.

O Rock, shield me,

וּמֵעֲוֹנִי פְּדֵנִי.

redeem me from my iniquity

וְתוֹרָתְךָ לַמְּדֵנִי:

and teach me Your Torah.

קוֹלִי שְׁמַע כְּחַסְדֶּךָ.

Hear my voice according to Your kindness;

בְּיוֹם אֶעֱמֹד נֶגְדְּךָ.

and on the day I stand before You

אַל־תַּט בְּאַף עַבְדֶּךָ:

do not turn away Your servant in anger.

רְאֵה עָנְיִי וַעֲנֵנִי.

See my affliction and answer me;

אֲנִי בְיָדְךָ הִנֵּנִי.

behold I am in Your hand,

וְאַתָּה יְהֹוָה חָנֵּנִי:

and You Adonoy, be gracious to me.

שְׁלַח אֲמִתְּךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ.

Send Your truth and Your kindness

לְעַם צוֹעֲקִים נֶגְדֶּךָ

to the people [Israel] who cry unto You,

וְלִי אֲנִי עַבְדֶּךָ:

even to me, I am your servant.

תִּסְלַח אַשְׁמָתֵנוּ.

Forgive our guilt,

וְאַל־תִּפְקֹד עֲלוּמֵינוּ.

and do not reckon the sins of our youth,

כִּי כְצֵל יָמֵינוּ:

for our days are but a shadow.

אֵל מֶֽלֶךְ.

Almighty! King!

יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים.

Who sits on the throne of mercy,

מִתְנַהֵג בַּחֲסִידוּת.

governs with kindness

מוֹחֵל עֲו‍ֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ.

forgives the iniquities of His people.

מַעֲבִיר רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן.

He removes their sins one by one,

מַרְבֶּה מְחִילָה לְחַטָּאִים

increasing forgiveness to sinners,

וּסְלִיחָה לְפוֹשְׁעִים.

and pardon to transgressors.

עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקוֹת

Acting righteously

עִם כָּל בָּשָׂר וָרֽוּחַ.

with all who are of flesh and spirit;

לֹא כְרָעָתָם

not according to their wickedness

תִּגְמוֹל:

does He repay them.

אֵל

Almighty!

הוֹרֵיתָ לָנוּ לוֹמַר

You instructed us to recite

שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the thirteen Divine attributes;

וּזְכָר לָֽנוּ הַיּוֹם

remember unto us this day

בְּרִית שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹדַֽעְתָּ

as You made them known

לֶעָנָו מִקֶּֽדֶם.

to the humble Moses of old,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב

as it is written,

וַיֵּרֶד יְהֹוָה בֶּֽעָנָן

“And Adonoy descended in the cloud,

וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם

and stood with him there,

וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה:

and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.

קהל וחזן:

Congregation and Chazzan:

וַיַּֽעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו

And Adonoy passed before him [Moses],

וַיִּקְרָא:

and proclaimed:

יְהֹוָה יְהֹוָה

Adonoy, Adonoy,

אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן

Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם

Slow to Anger,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד וֶֽאֱמֶת:

and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth.

נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד

Keeper of kindness

לָאֲלָפִים

for thousands of generations,

נֹשֵׂא עָו‍ֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע

Endurer of iniquity, and transgression,

וְחַטָּאָה

and sin;

וְנַקֵּה:

and Acquitter of those who repent.

וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲו‍ֹנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ

“And pardon our iniquity and our sin,

וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:

and take us for Your inheritance.”

סְלַח לָֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ כִּי חָטָֽאנוּ.

Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned,

מְחַל לָֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כִּי פָשָֽׁעְנוּ:

forgive us our King, for we have transgressed.

כִּי אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי

“For You, my Master,

טוֹב וְסַלָּח

are good and forgiving,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד

and abounding in kindness

לְכָל קֹרְאֶֽיךָ:

to all who call upon You.”

גָּדוֹל יְהוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד

Adonoy is great and highly extolled

בְּעִיר אֱלֹהֵינוּ

in the city of our God,

הַר־קָדְשׁוֹ:

the mountain of His Sanctuary.

יְפֵה נוֹף

Beautiful in its panoramic vista,

מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל־הָאָרֶץ הַר־צִיּוֹן

the joy of all the earth is Mount Zion,

יַרְכְּתֵי צָפוֹן

on the northern edge [of Jerusalem]

קִרְיַת מֶלֶךְ רָב:

the city of the great King.

הֵיטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶת־צִיּוֹן

Do good as You see fit, to Zion,

תִּבְנֶה חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם:

may You rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

יָשָׁב־נָא אַפְּךָ וַחֲמָתְךָ

Turn away Your anger and Your rage

מֵעִירְךָ יְרוּשָׁלִַם

from Your city, Jerusalem,

הַר־קָדְשֶׁךָ:

Your holy mountain.

לְסַפֵּר בְּצִיּוֹן שֵׁם יְהוָה

To recount in Zion, the Name, Adonoy,

וּתְהִלָּתוֹ בִּירוּשָׁלִָם:

and His praise in Jerusalem.

וְעָרְבָה לַיהוָֹה

And may Adonoy be pleased

מִנְחַת יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִָם

with the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem

כִּימֵי עוֹלָם וּכְשָׁנִים קַדְמֹנִיּוֹת:

as in the days of old and in earlier years.

בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלִַם יְהוָֹה

The builder of Jerusalem is Adonoy,

נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְכַנֵּס:

the banished ones of Israel, He will gather.

כִּי לֹא־יִטֹּשׁ יְהוָֹה אֶת עַמּוֹ

For Adonoy will not cast off His people,

וְנַחֲלָתוֹ לֹא יַעֲזֹב:

and His inheritance, He will not abandon.

כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים

As a father has compassion on his children

כֵּן תְּרַחֵם יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ:

so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy.

לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה,

Deliverance is Adonoy’s;

עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה:

upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ

Adonoy of Hosts is with us,

מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ, אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה:

a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת,

Adonoy of Hosts!

אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּֽטֵֽחַ בָּךְ:

fortunate is the man who trusts in You.

יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה,

Adonoy, deliver us;

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ:

the King will answer us on the day we call.

סְלַח נָא לַעֲו‍ֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה,

“Please pardon the sins of this nation

כְּגֹֽדֶל

in accordance with the greatness

חַסְדֶּֽךָ.

of Your lovingkindness;

וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָֽׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה.

and as You forgave this people

מִמִּצְרַֽיִם וְעַד הֵֽנָּה.

from when it left Egypt until now.”

וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:

And there it is said:

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה

“And Adonoy said,

סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:

I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”

הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמָע,

Incline Your ear, my God, and hear,

פְּקַח עֵינֶֽיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵֽינוּ,

open Your eyes and behold our desolate places,

וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶֽיהָ

and the city which is called by Your Name;

כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקֹתֵֽינוּ,

for it is not on account of our righteousness

אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ,

that we let fall our supplication before You,

כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים:

but because of Your great mercy.

אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָֽעָה, אֲדֹנָי סְלָֽחָה,

My Master, hear! My Master, pardon!

אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִֽׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה,

My Master, listen and take action,

אַל תְּאַחַר.

do not delay!

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי,

For Your sake, my God,

כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא

because Your Name is proclaimed

עַל עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּֽךָ:

over Your city and over Your people.