O holy Torah, pray pleadingly before the Rock Who is revered in holiness. Pour forth sweet prayer and recall the actions at Horeb,1Where the Torah was given to Israel. when they uttered: “We shall do and obey” in order to draw near to God.
Seir and Paran rejected Your Torah not wanting to keep it, God arose and investigated them,2If they observed the seven Noachide laws which they had accepted. seeing that they did not, he released them.3Even from the seven Noachide laws. The High One cast them off for not keeping their statutes; in anger and wrath, he executed vengeance against them.
He came accompanied from His myriads,4He came to Mt. Sinai only with some of His angels. and was sanctified in the heavens; from His right hand a fiery law, a flashing flame. With pleasant faces, they joined themselves to Him, they were kissed from His mouth through the Ten Commandments.5They heard the first two commandments from His mouth.
The world became firmly established though it melted due to the stipulation.6God created the world on the condition that Israel accept the Torah. The world’s existence was not secure until after Sinai. As though finding great spoil, [it rejoiced] at [Israel’s acceptance of] Your word. The mysteries of Your precepts were entrusted to Your loved ones, who have ever since honored You.
Though they are wanderers and fugitives, and exceedingly vexed, in the sweetness of Your honey [the Torah] they always delight. They beautify the tradition of both the Written and Oral Law, they prize Your word as more precious than onyx and jasper [stones].
My heart loves those who expound Your Law, who refine it with clarity, who set aside their time to reveal Your hidden secrets. The general and specific principles they perceive and examine, they banish sleep from their bedchambers.7In order to pursue their study of Torah.
Daily they search and ponder in their hearts [to determine] what is forbidden and what is permitted, and verbally expound their decisions. Between the clean and the unclean, they distinguish and teach; despite distress and privation, their eyes are filled with light.
Statutes and Judgements were decided on their word, and yet by hostile judges were they judged. Remember this O Torah, to strengthen those who study you; those who explain your thoughts, grant them aid and support.
Entreat your Creator with words of supplication, for He is your God, your Creator and your Master. If not for the perfect one’s [Israel] constant meditation in the perfect Torah, it would have been cast in a corner, forsaken and desolate.
Heaven and earth stand firm because of her, and by virtue of [Israel’s] pure reverence and [fulfillment of] her lucid commandments. Chant mightily and pour forth supplication, that our prayers go through [to Him] unobstructed by the clouds.
They approach You8lit. Him. with supplication, to be cleansed from their stains [sins], grant their wish, be merciful and gracious. Gather the numberless congregation into the faithful city [Jerusalem], and like a noisy flock in its pasture, may she resound with multitudes of people.
May He rescue the captives from darkness and gloom, and forever encompass them with strength and songs of rescue. And through repentance may they be gently saved from destruction, may He seek the lost and strayed flock.
May He heal the weak, and remove all sickness, may Zion, the glorious city, be filled.9With multitudes of people. Bind up the broken [Israel] and disgrace the haughty [nations], and greatly avenge the city so attached to You.
נא. מיוסד על פי תשר"ק. חתום שמעון בר יצחק חזק.
תּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה. הִתְחַנְּנִי בְּבַקָּשָׁה. פְּנֵי־הַצּוּר נַעֲרָץ בִּקְדֻשָּׁה: שִׁפְכִי שִֹיחַ עָרֵב. וְזִכְרִי מַעֲשֵֹה חֹרֵב. בְּנַעֲשֶֹה וְנִשְׁמַע נָמוּ לְהִתְקָרֵב:
O holy Torah, pray pleadingly before the Rock Who is revered in holiness. Pour forth sweet prayer and recall the actions at Horeb,1Where the Torah was given to Israel. when they uttered: “We shall do and obey” in order to draw near to God.
רָגְנוּ שֵֹעִיר וּפָארָן, דָּתוֹתֶיךָ לְשָׁמְרָן. עָמַד וּמְדָדָן רָאָה וְהִתִּירָן: קָדוֹשׁ הִתִּיקָם. לְלֹא שָׁמְרוּ חֻקָּם. בְּאַף וּבְחֵמָה עֲשֹוֹת בָּהֶם נָקָם:
Seir and Paran rejected Your Torah not wanting to keep it, God arose and investigated them,2If they observed the seven Noachide laws which they had accepted. seeing that they did not, he released them.3Even from the seven Noachide laws. The High One cast them off for not keeping their statutes; in anger and wrath, he executed vengeance against them.
צָעַד מֵרְבָבוֹת. וְנִקְדַּשׁ בָּעֲרָבוֹת. מִימִינוֹ אֵשׁ דָּת, וְלַהַב שַׁלְהֵבוֹת: פָּנִים מַסְבִּירוֹת. אֵלָיו מִתְחַבְּרוֹת. הֻנָשְׁקוּ מִפִּיו עֲשֶֹרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת:
He came accompanied from His myriads,4He came to Mt. Sinai only with some of His angels. and was sanctified in the heavens; from His right hand a fiery law, a flashing flame. With pleasant faces, they joined themselves to Him, they were kissed from His mouth through the Ten Commandments.5They heard the first two commandments from His mouth.
עוֹלָם נִתְבַּסָּס. אֲשֶׁר מִתְּנָאוֹ נִמְסָס. וּכְמוֹצֵא שָׁלָל־רָב עַל־אִמְרָתְךָ שָֹשֹ: סוֹדֵי פִקּוּדַיִךְ. נִמְסְרוּ לְדוֹדַיִךְ. מֵאָז וְעַד־עַתָּה הֵמָּה מְכַבְּדָיִךְ:
The world became firmly established though it melted due to the stipulation.6God created the world on the condition that Israel accept the Torah. The world’s existence was not secure until after Sinai. As though finding great spoil, [it rejoiced] at [Israel’s acceptance of] Your word. The mysteries of Your precepts were entrusted to Your loved ones, who have ever since honored You.
נָדִים וְגַם נָעִים. וּבְרֹגֶז שְֹבֵעִים. בְנֹפֶת צוּפַיִךְ תָּמִיד מִשְׁתַּעֲשְׁעִים: מַסֹּרֶת לְיַפֵּה. בִּכְתָב וּבְעַל־פֶּה. יָקְרוּ אֲמָרֶיךָ מִשּׁוֹהַם וְיָשְׁפֵּה:
Though they are wanderers and fugitives, and exceedingly vexed, in the sweetness of Your honey [the Torah] they always delight. They beautify the tradition of both the Written and Oral Law, they prize Your word as more precious than onyx and jasper [stones].
לִבִּי לְחוֹקְקַיִךְ. בַּעֲלִיל מְזוֹקְקַיִךְ. קוֹבְעֵי עִתּוֹתָם לְפַלֵּשׁ פְּקָקַיִךְ: כְּלָלוֹת וּפְרָטוֹת. לִרְאוֹת וּלְהַטּוֹת. שְׁנָתָם נוֹדֶדֶת בַּחֲדַר הַמִּטּוֹת:
My heart loves those who expound Your Law, who refine it with clarity, who set aside their time to reveal Your hidden secrets. The general and specific principles they perceive and examine, they banish sleep from their bedchambers.7In order to pursue their study of Torah.
יוֹם־יוֹם יִדְרֹשׁוּן. בְּלִבָּם יַחֲרֹשׁוּן. לֶאֱסֹר וּלְהַתִּיר בְּפִיהֶם יְפָרְשׁוּן: טְמֵאוֹת וּטְהוֹרוֹת. לְהַבְדִּיל וּלְהוֹרוֹת. מִלַּחַץ וְדֹחֵק עֵינֵיהֶם מַנְהִירוֹת:
Daily they search and ponder in their hearts [to determine] what is forbidden and what is permitted, and verbally expound their decisions. Between the clean and the unclean, they distinguish and teach; despite distress and privation, their eyes are filled with light.
חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים. עַל־פִּימוֹ שְׁפוּטִים. וְאוֹיְבֵיהֶם פְּלִילִים וּבָהֶם נִשְׁפָּטִים: זִכְרִי זֹאת תְּעוּדָה. הוֹגַיִךְ לְהִתְעוֹדְדָה, וּמְלִיצֵי הֶגְיוֹנַיִךְ לַעֲזֹר וּלְסַעֲדָה:
Statutes and Judgements were decided on their word, and yet by hostile judges were they judged. Remember this O Torah, to strengthen those who study you; those who explain your thoughts, grant them aid and support.
וְחַנְּנִי פְנֵי קוֹנֵךְ. בְּמַעַן חִנּוּנֵךְ. כִּי הוּא אֱלֹהַיִךְ יוֹצְרֵךְ וַאֲדוֹנֵךְ: הֲלֹא אִם אֵין תַּמָּה. הוֹגָה בִּתְמִימָה. הֵן בְּקֶרֶן זָוִית נְתוּנָה וּמִשְׁתּוֹמְמָה:
Entreat your Creator with words of supplication, for He is your God, your Creator and your Master. If not for the perfect one’s [Israel] constant meditation in the perfect Torah, it would have been cast in a corner, forsaken and desolate.
דֹּק וָחֶלֶד עֲבוּרָהּ עוֹמְדִים בִּגְבֻרָה. בְּיִרְאָה הַטְּהוֹרָה. וּבְמִצְוָה בָּרָה: גִּבְרִי רִנּוּנִים. וְשִׁפְכִי תַּחֲנוּנִים. עֲבֹר תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ בְּאֵין־סִכּוּךְ עֲנָנִים:
Heaven and earth stand firm because of her, and by virtue of [Israel’s] pure reverence and [fulfillment of] her lucid commandments. Chant mightily and pour forth supplication, that our prayers go through [to Him] unobstructed by the clouds.
בָּאֵי עָדָיו בְּתַחַן. לְנַקּוֹתָם מִצַּחַן. מַאֲוַיָּם יִתֵּן יִכְמֹר וְגַם יָחוֹן: אֱסֹף עֲדַת מִי־מָנָה. לְקִרְיָה נֶאֱמָנָה. וּכְעֵדֶר בְּתוֹךְ הַדָּבְרוֹ, מֵאָדָם תְּהִימֶנָּה:
They approach You8lit. Him. with supplication, to be cleansed from their stains [sins], grant their wish, be merciful and gracious. Gather the numberless congregation into the faithful city [Jerusalem], and like a noisy flock in its pasture, may she resound with multitudes of people.
שְִבוּיִם יְמַלֵּט. מֵאַשְׁמַנֵּי עֶלֶט. עֲדֵי־עַד יְסוֹבְבָם עֹז, רָנֵּי פַלֵּט: וּבְשׁוּבָה וָנַחַת יִוָּשְׁעוּ מִשַּׁחַת. בַּקֵּשׁ צֹאן אוֹבְדוֹת וְגַם הַנִּדַּחַת:
May He rescue the captives from darkness and gloom, and forever encompass them with strength and songs of rescue. And through repentance may they be gently saved from destruction, may He seek the lost and strayed flock.
רַפְּאוֹת הַנַּחְלָה. יָסִיר כָּל־מַחֲלָה. צִיּוֹן לְמַלְאוֹת עִיר הַמְּהֻלָּלָה: חֲבשׁ הַנִּשְׁבֶּרֶת. זַלְזֵל הַגְּבֶרֶת. קַנֵּא קִנְאָה גְדוֹלָה, לְעִיר הַמְּחֻבֶּרֶת:
May He heal the weak, and remove all sickness, may Zion, the glorious city, be filled.9With multitudes of people. Bind up the broken [Israel] and disgrace the haughty [nations], and greatly avenge the city so attached to You.