לצום גדליה 4

מז. על פי א"ב. חתום אליה בר שמעיה חזק.

אֶת־יְהֹוָה בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ

While Adonoy may be found,¹Especially during the Ten Days of Penitence.

לְדָרְשׁוֹ קִדַּמְתִּי.

I rise early to seek Him;

בְּעַד עֲוֹנוֹת לְכַפֵּר,

to entreat Him to atone [my] iniquities,

כִּי כַתּוֹלָע נֶאֱדַמְתִּי.

for I am red [with sin] as scarlet.

גֻּלְגַּל־הַלֵּב וְטוּמְטַם

My heart is confused and benumbed,

וּכְיָשֵׁן נִרְדַּמְתִּי.

and as one asleep, I drowse.

כִּמְעַט כִסְדוֹם הָיִיתִי

I have become almost like Sodom,

וְלַעֲמוֹרָה דָּמִיתִי:

and to Gomorrah am I likened.

דָּמִיתִי לְסוֹטָה פְרוּעָה

I resemble a faithless wife,

מְנָאֶפֶת וַחֲלָלָה.

and a shameless adultress;

הָיִיתִי כְבֶגֶד־עִדִּים,

I have become like a polluted garment,

וְהוּשַֹמְתִּי כְּשִֹמְלָה

like a garment

בְדָמִים מְגוֹלְלָה.

stained with blood.

וְחָסַרְתִּי מַפְגִּיעַ,

I lack a mediator,

וְיוֹדֵעַ אַיִן לְפַלְּלָה.

and one that knows how to pray [for me].

רְאֵה יְהֹוָה וְהַבִּיטָה,

Look Adonoy! and see,

כִּי־הָיִיתִי זוֹלֵלָה:

for I have become repulsive.²Lamentations 1:11.

זוֹלֵלָה כְּבוּדָה נֶהֱפְכָה

[Israel] the honored one has become repulsive

בְּיַד־מְגָאֵל.

in the hands of those who besmirch her;

חִנָּם נִמְכְּרָה לִצְמִיתוּת,

she has been sold for naught forever,

וְאֵין־גּוֹאֵל.

and there is none to redeem her.

טֻבַּע נָכוֹן וְנִשָּׂא

That which was firm and upraised³The Holy Temple. has sunken

וְחָרֵב אֲרִיאֵל.

and the Ariel [the Altar] has been destroyed;

הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ

cast down from heaven to the earth,

תִּפְאֶרֶת־יִשְֹרָאֵל:

is the glory of Israel.⁴Lamentations 2:1.

יִשְֹרָאֵל לְבוֹזְזִים וְלִמְשִׁסָּה,

Israel is a prey to robbers and vandals—

עַד־מָתַי.

how long will this continue?

כָּאַרְבֶּה רַבּוּ עוֹרְקַי,

Numerous as locusts are my pursuers

וְעָצְמוּ מַצְמִיתַי.

and mighty are my destroyers;

לַלֵּב בְּשֹוּמִי,

when I take to heart,

הֲרִיסוֹתַי חָרְבוֹתַי וְשׁוֹמְמוֹתַי.

my ruin, my destruction and my devastation,

וַתִּבְחַר מַחֲנַק נַפְשִׁי,

my soul prefers [to die from] strangulation,

מָוֶת מֵעַצְמוֹתָי:

and death rather than to dwell in my bones.⁵My soul prefers death rather than dwell within me.

מֵעַצְמוֹתַי

Because my bones

הַמְפֻצָּחוֹת וְהַמְפֻלָּחוֹת,

are crushed and pierced

מִמַּכְעִיסֶךָ וּמִמַּזְעִימֶךָ.

by those who provoke and blaspheme You,

נָאַמְתִּי,

I said,

נִלְאֵיתִי נְשֹא חֲרוֹנְךָ וְזַעֲמֶךָ.

“I cannot bear Your anger and Your wrath.”

שִֹים לֵב

May it be in Your heart

לִגְאֹל חַיַּת נְעִימֶיךָ.

to redeem the life of Your beloved ones,

כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא,

for Your Name is called

עַל־עִירְךָ וְעַל־עַמֶּךָ:

on Your city and on Your people.

עַמְּךָ זְרוּיִים פְּזוּרִים

Your people, scattered and dispersed

בְּכָל־מוֹשָׁבוֹת.

among every nation,

פְּקָדוּךָ בַּצָּר,

remember You in their adversity

פְּחָדוּךָ בְּמַעַשֹ וּבְמַחֲשָׁבוֹת.

and fear You in deed and thought.

צְלֹל־זָדוֹן,

Drown their deliberate sins,

וְהַעֲבֵר וְרַפֵּא מְשׁוּבוֹת.

and forgive and heal their negligence.

אֲדֹנָי, שִׁמְעָה בְקוֹלֵנוּ,

My Master, hear our voice,

תִּהְיֶינָה אָזְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁבוֹת:

let Your ears be attentive [to our prayer].

קַשֻּׁבוֹת תִּהְיֶינָה אָזְנֶיךָ,

Let Your ears be attentive

לְשֶׁפֶךְ שִֹיחֵנוּ.

to the outpouring of our pleading,

רֹן־שְׂפָתֵינוּ קַבֵּל

let the praise of our lips be acceptable

כְּרֵיחַ נִיחֹחֵינוּ.

as the sweet savor of our sacrifices.

שִׁחַרְנוּךָ מָגִנֵּנוּ

We seek You, our Shield,

וּבְךָ יַהַב מִבְטָחֵנוּ.

and in You we place our trust,

כִּי שִׁמְךָ עָלֵינוּ נִקְרָא

for we are called by Your Name,

אַל־תַּנִּיחֵנוּ:

do not abandon us.

תַּנִּיחֵנוּ אָדוֹן

You have abandoned us, O Master,

זֶה כַּמֶּה־שָׁנִים לָמָּה.

these many years—why?

לְשַׁמָּה לְמָשָׁל

We have become as astonishment, an example,

וְלִשְׁנִינָה לְלַעַג

a byword, a scorn,

לְבוֹשֶׁת וְלִכְלִמָּה.

a shame and disgrace.⁶Among the nations of the world who persecute us.

יֵאָמֵן וְיוּחַשׁ הַמִּבְטָח,

Speedily fulfill the promise

שֶׁהִבְטַחְתָּ לַשּׁוֹמֵמָה.

that You made to the desolate [land]:

אֲנִי יְהֹוָה בָּנִיתִי הַנֶּהֱרָסוֹת,

“I, Adonoy, build the ruins,

נָטַעְתִּי הַנְּשַׁמָּה:

and plant that which was desolate.”⁷Ezekiel 36:36.

הַנְּשַׁמָּה

The desolate land,

בְּרַחֲמִים גְּדוֹלִים תִּבְנֶה

in Your great mercy, rebuild it,

וּתְכוֹנְנָהּ.

and establish it firmly;

שְׁמַע יָהּ חִנּוּנָהּ,

hear, O God, her supplication,

כִּי־בָא עֵת לְחֶנְנָהּ.

for the time to favor her is come.

חַזֵּק מַאֲמִירֶךָ,

Strengthen those who praise You,

בְּצֵל־יָדְךָ לְגוֹנְנָהּ.

shield them in the shadow of Your hand,

וּפְדוּיֵי יְהֹוָה יְשׁוּבוּן,

and may the redeemed ones of Adonoy, return

וּבָאוּ צִיּוֹן בְּרִנָּה:

and come to Zion with singing.

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.”

דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה וְעֻזּוֹ

Seek Adonoy and His might,

בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָיו תָּמִיד׃

seek His Presence continually.

דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ,

Seek Adonoy while He may be found

קְרָאֻהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב׃

call upon Him while He is near.

יַעֲזֹב רָשָׁע דַּרְכּוֹ

Let the wicked one forsake his way,

וְאִישׁ אָוֶן מַחְשְׁבֹתָיו

and the man of deceit, his thoughts;

וְיָשֹׁב אֶל־יְהוָה

and let him return to Adonoy,

וִירַחֲמֵהוּ

and He will have compassion for him,

וְאֶל־אֱלֹהֵינוּ

and to our God,

כִּי־יַרְבֶּה לִסְלוֹחַ׃

for He will abundantly pardon.

שׁוּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ

Return Israel unto God,

כִּי כָשַׁלְתָּ בַּעֲוֺנֶךָ׃

for you have failed by your iniquity.

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.