One Should Not Divorce His Wife Even if She is Bad, for She Saves Him from the Suffering of Gehinnom / A Person Should Not Indulge His Carnal Appetites There are two reasons for breaking a plate at the time of an engagement. A man must be very careful not to divorce his wife. A man who has a bad wife will not see Gehinnom (Eruvin 41b) — thus, a man in such a circumstance should accept his situation with equanimity. This is alluded to in the breaking of the plate. There was a Gate of Shards in Jerusalem, traditionally described as standing opposite the entrance to Gehinnom. The breaking of the plate hints to the man that even if she will be a bad wife, he should not be disloyal to her, but accept that situation with love, for as a result he will not see Gehinnom. Conversely, if she is a good wife, he should remember that Gehinnom exists and not be drawn after his carnal appetites, but sanctify himself. Rescue Us from the Judgment of Gehinnom “To You, HaShem, I call, and to HaShem I pray.” “What profit is there in my blood, in my descending to the grave? Will the earth acknowledge You, will it tell Your truth?”
“Hear, HaShem, and be gracious to me. HaShem, help me!” Have compassion on me, my offspring, and Your entire nation, the House of Israel, and save us from the judgment of Gehinnom!
Have compassion on us — from now on, at any rate. Rescue us from the desire for intimate relations. In Your compassion, kindness and awesome wonders, guard us and save us. Help us so that we will not indulge our desire inordinately, even when it is permissible.
Rather, may we remember the harsh and bitter punishment of Gehinnom. May we not satiate our desires, Heaven forbid, but reduce them completely until we break them entirely.
May we not be accustomed to engage in marital relations at all, Heaven forbid, except in order to maintain the human race. May we do so in great holiness and purity, with dread and awe, trembling and trepidation, humility and shame, and without any insolence or arrogance of the Side of Evil at all.
May we succeed in protecting and guarding ourselves from all kinds of fantasies and evil thoughts, from every kind of evil gazing, and from every kind of blemish to the covenant in thought, speech and deed, in all of our senses and with all of our faculties.
In all of them, may we carefully guard ourselves to the ultimate degree against every kind of blemish to the covenant — whether forbidden or permitted, unintentional or purposeful, under duress or willingly — so that we will be saved from the judgment of Gehinnom.
In Your vast and great compassion, in Your mercy and graciousness, have compassion on us. For You know the severe, bitter suffering of Gehinnom, even if it lasts for but a single hour.
Have compassion on us during our lifetime. Help us and save us so that we will overcome and vanquish our evil inclination, and thus rescue ourselves entirely from the judgment of Gehinnom.
We have caused blemishes against You until now — in particular, blemishes of the covenant — until “our sins have risen over our head,” rising to the heights of Heaven, and growing heavier than the sand of the sea and more numerous than the dust of the earth. Regarding all of this, forgive us and grant us atonement, God of atonement, You Who are gracious and generous to forgive.
We do not have the power to rectify even one of these blemishes — certainly not all of them — except by praying and beseeching You to have mercy and pity on us, and to forgive our past with truly complete forgiveness.
Help us and save us in the future. Assist us at every moment by guarding us so that we will no longer sin and no longer cause any blemishes at all — in particular, to the holy covenant.
Have mercy on us, for there is nothing more pitiful than one who causes a blemish to the holy covenant. Have mercy on us, our Father in Heaven. In Your vast compassion, do what You will so that we will no longer sin and no longer cause any blemishes at all.
May we guard Your laws and commandments in accordance with Your good will all of the days of our lives, forever, so that we will be entirely rescued from the judgment of Gehinnom and never see the face of Gehinnom.
Your compassion is extremely vast. You hear the prayer of every mouth. In particular, we trust and rely on the power of the true Tzaddikim who truly guard the covenant.
Therefore, our eyes are turned to Your compassion and kindness alone, like the eyes of servants turned to the hand of their masters, until You will have compassion on us from Heaven and help us — from now on, at any rate — truly rectify the covenant, in accordance with Your will and in accordance with the will of Your true Tzaddikim, may their merit protect us.
May We Find Our True Spouse Have compassion on every one of Your nation, the House of Israel, who need to find a spouse, so that each one will find his spouse quickly — his true spouse, his spouse meant for him from Heaven.
During the engagement ceremony — the tena’im — at the time of the breaking of the plate, may everyone be inspired for Your sake to recall his goal and purpose.
May the man then remember the Gate of Shards that was in Jerusalem, which is the entrance to Gehinnom — so that he will not be disloyal to his worthy wife, and take care not to divorce her even if she causes him suffering, Heaven forbid.
He should recall the bitter punishment of Gehinnom from which a man is rescued as a result of having a bad wife. As our sages said, “A man who has a bad wife does not see the face of Gehinnom.” He must accept this with love. And he should remind himself that if she will be a good wife, acting in accordance with his will, he should be extremely careful not to overindulge his sexual desire, Heaven forbid, and truly remember that Gehinnom exists.
He should have pity on himself and sanctify himself with ultimate holiness when he engages in marital relations, as is fitting for a Jewish man, and recall and never forget the bitter punishment of Gehinnom that comes on account of a blemish of the covenant, Heaven forbid, may the Compassionate One protect us.
Have compassion on me, on my offspring and on every Jew. In Your compassion, bring about a chain of events for the good, so that we will aid and rescue our soul from Gehinnom and from every type of punishment and judgment in this world and the World to Come.
“What profit is there in my blood, in my descending to the grave? Will the earth acknowledge You, will it tell Your truth?” Protect us in Your great compassion and rescue us from Your wrath. “Guard my soul and rescue me. May I not be ashamed, for I have taken refuge in You.” “Save my spirit from the sword, my soul from the dogs.”
“Rescue me from the mud so that I will not sink. May I be delivered from my enemies and from the depths of the water.” “May the waves of water not pour over me, may the depths not swallow me up, and may the wellspring not shut its mouth upon me.”
“Answer me, HaShem, for Your lovingkindness is good; in accordance with Your compassion, turn to me. Do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress; answer me soon.” “Bring redemption close to my spirit; despite my enemies, redeem me.” “Bring me back and I will return, for You are [HaShem] my God.”
“Return us to You, HaShem, and we will return; renew our days as of old.” “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה צ' - טַעַם עַל שְׁבִירַת כְּלִי חֶרֶס בִּשְׁעַת הַשִּׁדּוּךְ]
אֵלֶיךָ יְהֹוָה אֶקְרָא וְאֶל אֲדֹנָי אֶתְחַנָּן, מַה בֶּצַע בְּדָמִי בְּרִדְתִּי אֶל שַׁחַת הֲיוֹדְךָ עָפָר הֲיַגִּיד אֲמִתֶּךָ,
One Should Not Divorce His Wife Even if She is Bad, for She Saves Him from the Suffering of Gehinnom / A Person Should Not Indulge His Carnal Appetites
There are two reasons for breaking a plate at the time of an engagement.
A man must be very careful not to divorce his wife. A man who has a bad wife will not see Gehinnom (Eruvin 41b) — thus, a man in such a circumstance should accept his situation with equanimity.
This is alluded to in the breaking of the plate. There was a Gate of Shards in Jerusalem, traditionally described as standing opposite the entrance to Gehinnom. The breaking of the plate hints to the man that even if she will be a bad wife, he should not be disloyal to her, but accept that situation with love, for as a result he will not see Gehinnom.
Conversely, if she is a good wife, he should remember that Gehinnom exists and not be drawn after his carnal appetites, but sanctify himself.
Rescue Us from the Judgment of Gehinnom
“To You, HaShem, I call, and to HaShem I pray.” “What profit is there in my blood, in my descending to the grave? Will the earth acknowledge You, will it tell Your truth?”
שְׁמַע יְהֹוָה וְחָנֵּנִי יְהֹוָה הֱיֵה עוֹזֵר לִי. וְרַחֵם עָלַי וְעַל זַרְעִי וְעַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם,
“Hear, HaShem, and be gracious to me. HaShem, help me!” Have compassion on me, my offspring, and Your entire nation, the House of Israel, and save us from the judgment of Gehinnom!
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ מֵעַתָּה עַל כָּל פָּנִים, וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִתַּאֲוַת הַמִּשְׁגָּל. שָׁמְרֵנוּ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ וְנִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ הַנּוֹרָאוֹת, וֶהְיֵה בְּעֶזְרֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא נַרְבֶּה תַאֲוָתֵנוּ אֲפִלּוּ בְּהֶתֵּר,
Have compassion on us — from now on, at any rate. Rescue us from the desire for intimate relations. In Your compassion, kindness and awesome wonders, guard us and save us. Help us so that we will not indulge our desire inordinately, even when it is permissible.
רַק נִזְכֶּה לִזְכּוֹר אָז בְּעוֹנֶשׁ הַקָּשֶׁה וְהַמַּר שֶׁל הַגֵּיהִנָּם, וְלֹא נְמַלֵּא תַאֲוָתֵנוּ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק נִזְכֶּה לְמַעֵט תַּאֲוָתֵנוּ בְּתַכְלִית הַמִּעוּט, עַד אֲשֶׁר נִזְכֶּה לְשַׁבְּרָהּ לְגַמְרֵי,
Rather, may we remember the harsh and bitter punishment of Gehinnom. May we not satiate our desires, Heaven forbid, but reduce them completely until we break them entirely.
וְלֹא נִהְיֶה רְגִילִים בָּזֶה כְּלָל חַס וְשָׁלוֹם כִּי אִם בִּשְׁבִיל קִיּוּם הַמִּין, בִּקְדֻשָּׁה וּבְטָהֳרָה גְּדוֹלָה, בְּאֵימָה וְיִרְאָה בְּרֶתֶת וְזִיעַ, בַּעֲנָוָה בְּבֹשֶׁת פָּנִים, בְּלִי שׁוּם חֲצִיפוּת וְעַזּוּת דְסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא כְּלָל.
May we not be accustomed to engage in marital relations at all, Heaven forbid, except in order to maintain the human race. May we do so in great holiness and purity, with dread and awe, trembling and trepidation, humility and shame, and without any insolence or arrogance of the Side of Evil at all.
מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁנִּהְיֶה נִשְׁמָרִים בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁמִירָה מִתַּאֲוָה זֹאת בְּאֵיזֶה צַד אִיסוּר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
How much more should we guard ourselves to the ultimate degree against any forbidden aspect of this desire, Heaven forbid.
שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִזָּהֵר וּלְהִשָּׁמֵר מִכָּל מִינֵי צַד הִרְהוּרִים וּמַחֲשָׁבוֹת רָעוֹת וּמִכָּל מִינֵי הִסְתַּכְּלוּת רָעִים, וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פְּגָם הַבְּרִית בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה דִבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה בְּכָל הַחוּשִׁים וּבְכָל הַכֹּחוֹת,
May we succeed in protecting and guarding ourselves from all kinds of fantasies and evil thoughts, from every kind of evil gazing, and from every kind of blemish to the covenant in thought, speech and deed, in all of our senses and with all of our faculties.
בְּכֻלָּם נִהְיֶה נִזְהָרִים וְנִשְׁמָרִים בְּתַכְלִית הַשְּׁמִירָה מִכָּל מִינֵי פְּגָם הַבְּרִית, בְּאִסּוּר וּבְהֶתֵּר בְּשׁוֹגֵג וּבְמֵזִיד בְּאוֹנֶס וּבְרָצוֹן, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִנָּצֵל מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם.
In all of them, may we carefully guard ourselves to the ultimate degree against every kind of blemish to the covenant — whether forbidden or permitted, unintentional or purposeful, under duress or willingly — so that we will be saved from the judgment of Gehinnom.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלִים בְּחֶמְלָתְךָ וַחֲנִינוֹתֶיךָ, כִּי אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ גֹּדֶל הַצַּעַר הַמַּר וְהַקָּשֶׁה מְאֹד שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם אֲפִלּוּ שָׁעָה אַחַת.
In Your vast and great compassion, in Your mercy and graciousness, have compassion on us. For You know the severe, bitter suffering of Gehinnom, even if it lasts for but a single hour.
רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ בְּחַיֵּינוּ, וְעָזְרֵנוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ וְזַכֵּנוּ שֶׁנִּתְגַבֵּר וְנִכְבּוֹשׁ אֶת יִצְרֵנוּ, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנַּצִּיל עַצְמֵנוּ מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם.
Have compassion on us during our lifetime. Help us and save us so that we will overcome and vanquish our evil inclination, and thus rescue ourselves entirely from the judgment of Gehinnom.
וְכָל מַה שֶׁפָּגַמְנוּ נֶגְדְּךָ עַד הֵנָּה, בִּפְרָט בִּפְגַם הַבְּרִית, עַד אֲשֶׁר עֲוֹנוֹתֵינוּ רַבוּ לְמַעְלָה רֹאשׁ וְעָצְמוּ עַד גָּבְהֵי שָׁמַיִם, וְכָבְדוּ מֵחוֹל יַמִּים, וְרַבּוּ מֵעֲפַר הָאָרֶץ, עַל הַכֹּל תִּמְחֹל וְתִסְלַח לָנוּ אֱלוֹהַּ סְּלִיחוֹת חַנּוּן הַמַּרְבֶּה לִסְלוֹחַ,
We have caused blemishes against You until now — in particular, blemishes of the covenant — until “our sins have risen over our head,” rising to the heights of Heaven, and growing heavier than the sand of the sea and more numerous than the dust of the earth. Regarding all of this, forgive us and grant us atonement, God of atonement, You Who are gracious and generous to forgive.
כִּי אֵין בְּיָדֵינוּ לְתַקֵּן אֶחָד מֵהֶם אַף כִּי כֻלָּם, כִּי אִם בִּתְפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּנִים שֶׁתַּחְמֹל וַתָּחוּס עָלֵינוּ, וְתִמְחוֹל לָנוּ עַל הֶעָבַר בִּמְחִילָה גְמוּרָה בֶּאֱמֶת,
We do not have the power to rectify even one of these blemishes — certainly not all of them — except by praying and beseeching You to have mercy and pity on us, and to forgive our past with truly complete forgiveness.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ וְתוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ עַל הֶעָתִיד, שֶׁתִּהְיֶה בְּעֶזְרֵנוּ בְּכָל עֵת וְתִשְׁמְרֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא נֶחֱטָא עוֹד, וְלֹא נִפְגּוֹם עוֹד שׁוּם פְּגָם כְּלָל בִּפְרַט בִּבְרִית־קֹדֶשׁ.
Help us and save us in the future. Assist us at every moment by guarding us so that we will no longer sin and no longer cause any blemishes at all — in particular, to the holy covenant.
חֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ כִּי אֵין רַחֲמָנוּת בָּעוֹלָם כַּאֲשֶׁר עַל הַפּוֹגֵם בִּבְרִית־קֹדֶשׁ, חֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ אָבִינוּ שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, וַעֲשֵׂה אֵת אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁלֹּא נֶחֱטָא וְלֹא נִפְגּוֹם עוֹד כְּלָל.
Have mercy on us, for there is nothing more pitiful than one who causes a blemish to the holy covenant. Have mercy on us, our Father in Heaven. In Your vast compassion, do what You will so that we will no longer sin and no longer cause any blemishes at all.
וְנִזְכֶּה לִשְׁמוֹר חֻקֶּיךָ וּמִצְוֹתֶיךָ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב כָּל יְמֵי חַיֵּינוּ לְעוֹלָם, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִנָּצֵל מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם, וְלֹא נִרְאֶה פְּנֵי גֵּיהִנָּם כְּלָל.
May we guard Your laws and commandments in accordance with Your good will all of the days of our lives, forever, so that we will be entirely rescued from the judgment of Gehinnom and never see the face of Gehinnom.
כִּי רַחֲמֶיךָ רַבִּים מְאֹד מְאֹד, וְאַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלַּת כָּל פֶּה, וּבִפְרָט כִּי אֲנַחְנוּ בְּטוּחִים וּסְמוּכִים עַל כֹּחָם שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שׁוֹמְרֵי הַבְּרִית בֶּאֱמֶת,
Your compassion is extremely vast. You hear the prayer of every mouth. In particular, we trust and rely on the power of the true Tzaddikim who truly guard the covenant.
אֲשֶׁר הֵם חִזְּקוּנוּ וְזֵרְזוּנוּ לְהַרְבּוֹת בִּתְפִלָּה וּבְבַקָּשׁוֹת וְתַחֲנוּנִים וּצְעָקָה וְשַׁוְעָה אֵלֶיךָ יִהְיֶה אֵיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה,
They have encouraged and inspired us to engage in much prayer, and to plead, beg, cry out and call out to You, however things may be.
עַל־כֵּן עֵינֵינוּ תְלוּיוֹת אֶל רַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ לְבַד כְּעֵינֵי עֲבָדִים אֶל יַד אֲדוֹנֵיהֶם, עַד אֲשֶׁר תְּרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וּתְזַכֵּנוּ מֵעַתָּה עַל־כָּל־פָּנִים לְתִקּוּן הַבְּרִית בֶּאֱמֶת, כִּרְצוֹנְךָ וְכִרְצוֹן צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים, זְכוּתָם יָגֵן עָלֵינוּ:
Therefore, our eyes are turned to Your compassion and kindness alone, like the eyes of servants turned to the hand of their masters, until You will have compassion on us from Heaven and help us — from now on, at any rate — truly rectify the covenant, in accordance with Your will and in accordance with the will of Your true Tzaddikim, may their merit protect us.
וּבְכֵן תְּרַחֵם עַל כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל הַצְּרִיכִים לִמְצוֹא זִוּוּגָם, שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ לִמְצוֹא זִוּוּגָם מְהֵרָה, זִוּוּגָם הָאֲמִתִּי, זִוּוּגָם הֶהָגוּן לָהֶם מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם,
May We Find Our True Spouse
Have compassion on every one of Your nation, the House of Israel, who need to find a spouse, so that each one will find his spouse quickly — his true spouse, his spouse meant for him from Heaven.
וְיִזְכֶּה כָּל אֶחָד לְהִתְעוֹרֵר אֵלֶיךָ בִּשְׁעַת הַהִתְקַשְּׁרוּת, לִזְכֹּר בְּהַתַּכְלִית וְהַסּוֹף בִּשְׁעַת שְׁבִירַת כְּלִי־חֶרֶס בְּעֵת הַתְּנָאִים,
During the engagement ceremony — the tena’im — at the time of the breaking of the plate, may everyone be inspired for Your sake to recall his goal and purpose.
שֶׁיִּזְכֹּר עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה בְּשַׁעַר הַחַרְסִית שֶׁהָיָה בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁהוּא פִתְחָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם, לְמַעַן לֹא יִבְגֹּד בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ הַכְּשֵׁרָה, וְיִזָּהֵר מִלְּגָרְשָׁהּ אֲפִלּוּ אִם יֵשׁ לוֹ יִסּוּרִים מִמֶּנָּה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
May the man then remember the Gate of Shards that was in Jerusalem, which is the entrance to Gehinnom — so that he will not be disloyal to his worthy wife, and take care not to divorce her even if she causes him suffering, Heaven forbid.
כִּי יִזְכֹּר בְּעוֹנֶשׁ הַמַּר שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם שֶׁיִּנָּצֵל מִמֶּנּוּ עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה שֶׁמִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אִשָּׁה רָעָה אֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה פְּנֵי גֵּיהִנָּם, וְצָרִיךְ לְקַבֵּל בְּאַהֲבָה, וְכֵן יַזְכִּיר אֶת עַצְמוֹ שֶׁאִם תִּהְיֶה אִשָּׁה טוֹבָה כִּרְצוֹנוֹ, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה זָהִיר וְזָהִיר מִלְּהַרְבּוֹת תַּאֲוָתוֹ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְיִזְכֹּר וְיִזְכֹּר שֶׁיֵּשׁ גֵּיהִנָּם,
He should recall the bitter punishment of Gehinnom from which a man is rescued as a result of having a bad wife. As our sages said, “A man who has a bad wife does not see the face of Gehinnom.” He must accept this with love. And he should remind himself that if she will be a good wife, acting in accordance with his will, he should be extremely careful not to overindulge his sexual desire, Heaven forbid, and truly remember that Gehinnom exists.
וְיַחְמֹל עַל עַצְמוֹ וִיקַדֵּשׁ אֶת עַצְמוֹ בְּזִוּוּגוֹ בְּתַכְלִית הַקְּדֻשָּׁה כָּרָאוּי לְאִישׁ הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִי, וְיִזְכֹּר וְלֹא יִשְׁכַּח עוֹנֶשׁ הַמַּר שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם שֶׁבָּא עַל פְּגָם הַבְּרִית חַס וְשָׁלוֹם רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן,
He should have pity on himself and sanctify himself with ultimate holiness when he engages in marital relations, as is fitting for a Jewish man, and recall and never forget the bitter punishment of Gehinnom that comes on account of a blemish of the covenant, Heaven forbid, may the Compassionate One protect us.
רַחֵם עָלַי וְעַל זַרְעִי וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וּתְסַבֵּב בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ סִבּוֹת לְטוֹבָה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִזְכֶּה לְמַלֵּט וּלְהַצִּיל נַפְשֵׁנוּ מִן הַגֵּיהִנָּם וּמִכָּל מִינֵי עוֹנָשִׁים וְדִינִים בָּזֶה וּבַבָּא,
Have compassion on me, on my offspring and on every Jew. In Your compassion, bring about a chain of events for the good, so that we will aid and rescue our soul from Gehinnom and from every type of punishment and judgment in this world and the World to Come.
כִּי מַה בֶּצַע בְּדָמִי בְּרִדְתִּי אֶל שַׁחַת הֲיוֹדְךָ עָפָר הֲיַגִּיד אֲמִתֶּךָ. חוּסָה עָלֵינוּ כְּרוֹב רַחֲמֶיךָ וְהַצִּילֵנוּ מִזַּעְמֶךָ, שָׁמְרָה נַפְשִׁי וְהַצִּילֵנִי, אַל אֵבוֹשׁ כִּי חָסִיתִי בָךְ, הַצִּילָה מֵחֶרֶב נַפְשִׁי מִיַּד כֶּלֶב יְחִידָתִי.
“What profit is there in my blood, in my descending to the grave? Will the earth acknowledge You, will it tell Your truth?” Protect us in Your great compassion and rescue us from Your wrath. “Guard my soul and rescue me. May I not be ashamed, for I have taken refuge in You.” “Save my spirit from the sword, my soul from the dogs.”
חוּס וְרַחֵם וַחֲמֹל עָלֵינוּ בִּזְכוּת וְכֹחַ הַצַּדִּיקִים אֲשֶׁר קֵרְבוּנוּ אֵלֶיךָ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ.
Have pity, compassion and mercy on us in the merit and power of the Tzaddikim who, aided by Your compassion, have brought us close to You.
הַצִּילֵנִי מִטִּיט וְאַל אֶטְבָּעָה, אִנָּצְלָה מִשּׂוֹנְאַי וּמִמַּעֲמַקֵּי מָיִם. אַל תִּשְׁטְפֵנִי שִׁבּוֹלֶת מַיִם וְאַל תִּבְלָעֵנִי מְצוּלָה וְאַל תֶּאְטַר עָלַי בְּאֵר פִּיהָ.
“Rescue me from the mud so that I will not sink. May I be delivered from my enemies and from the depths of the water.” “May the waves of water not pour over me, may the depths not swallow me up, and may the wellspring not shut its mouth upon me.”
עֲנֵנִי יְהֹוָה כִּי טוֹב חַסְדֶּךָ כְּרוֹב רַחֲמֶיךָ פְּנֵה אֵלָי. וְאַל תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מֵעַבְדֶּךָ כִּי צַר לִי מַהֵר עֲנֵנִי. קָרְבָה אֶל נַפְשִׁי גְּאָלָהּ לְמַעַן אוֹיְבַי פְּדֵנִי.
“Answer me, HaShem, for Your lovingkindness is good; in accordance with Your compassion, turn to me. Do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress; answer me soon.” “Bring redemption close to my spirit; despite my enemies, redeem me.” “Bring me back and I will return, for You are [HaShem] my God.”
הֲשִׁיבֵנִי וְאָשׁוּבָה כִּי אַתָּה (יְהֹוָה) אֱלֹהָי. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ וְנָשׁוּבָה חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵינוּ כְּקֶדֶם. יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי:
“Return us to You, HaShem, and we will return; renew our days as of old.” “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.”