Gaining a New Evil Inclination and Overcoming It / The Tzaddik’s Evil Inclination is a Holy Angel / A Tzaddik Must Sweeten Judgment / Overcoming Troubles by Overcoming One’s Evil Inclination / Too Much Holy Passion is Also a Type of Evil Inclination Sometimes goodness awakens in a person and causes him to experience thoughts of repentance. He then engages in good deeds, which kills his evil inclination. As he becomes a good and pious person, he wants to grow more spiritual — particularly by traveling to a Tzaddik. But as he makes his way to the Tzaddik and reaches him, he loses his original urge to connect to the Tzaddik. Why does this happen? In keeping with the principle that “the greater a person, the greater his evil inclination,” another even greater and, in a sense, more refined evil inclination has now arisen and is attacking him. In order to keep from losing his initial, idealistic urge, a person must overcome this new evil inclination. Regarding the concept of a “greater” evil inclination, most people are low and coarse, and their evil attribute of judgment, but then He broke His attribute of judgment and partnered it with the attribute of compassion. God’s attribute of judgment corresponds to the evil inclination. Just as God created the dynamic of breaking His judgment, so too, a person can break his evil inclination. If someone is experiencing troubles, it indicates that he is the subject of Heavenly judgment, which is associated with the evil inclination. In order to put an end to his troubles, he must do whatever he can to overcome his evil inclination, which will result in the eradication of Heavenly judgments against him. A person who wants to be God-fearing and untroubled by bad thoughts should ignore such thoughts and instead learn Torah, pray, and engage in earning a living. He should not allow himself to fall prey to depression, which is harmful and strengthens the coarse evil inclination. Should he have idolatrous or lustful thoughts that he cannot get out of his mind, he must seek to purify his body and blood, and go to a wise man who will tell him how to repent. Sometimes a person experiences an overwhelming passion and desire for God. This, too, is a type of evil inclination that he must work to overcome. Overcoming the Evil Inclination You Who are good and do good to all, You created us in order to reveal Your goodness and compassion.
In order to appreciate Your goodness, we must possess free will. And so You planted within us not only a good inclination, but also an evil inclination that we must overcome, as a result of which we attain Your vast and eternal goodness.
Your goodness is infinite and the steps to attain it rise without number. You want us to comprehend You at the highest level. And so You amplified the powers of the evil inclination almost beyond measure, giving it the power to entice and impede us at every stage. This is why our rabbis state that “the greater a person, the greater his evil inclination.” You did this in order that we may attain true goodness by breaking the power of the evil inclination, which impedes and entices us at every level.
But due to my many sins and the foolishness of my meager mind, I have not been able to break my evil inclination on every level. To the contrary, it has overcome me since my youth and I have been caught like a deer in the net. “HaShem, You placed me in the hand of an entity against whom I cannot rise.”
At times I struggle and attempt to escape from beneath its hand, but then it pushes me down even more. This has occurred times without measure, until “the strength of the porter has collapsed.” “They cut off my life in the dungeon and cast stones upon me.”
What can I say? How can I justify myself? How can I open my mouth and lift my eyes to You, after I have drawn the evil inclination toward me? Woe, what has happened to me?
Overcoming Judgments Master of the world, Whose goodness and compassion never cease, You know the extent of the judgments that rise up against me at every moment.
These judgments are jealous of every Jew because his heart always burns for You and because he strives constantly to return to You and recognize You. They hate him especially at the moment that he arouses himself to change, agitating against him and denouncing him. If not for Your compassion and kindness — in particular, if not for the power of the awesome Tzaddikim who shield us — we would have been lost in our impoverishment.
You know how weak, stubborn and foolish I am. And so, my Father in Heaven, You Who have mercy on the poor, You Who seek the persecuted, teach me how I, who am so insignificant, filled with sins and weakness, may strengthen myself against every aspect of the evil inclination, and gain wisdom and strength at every moment and on every level, whether I am ascending or descending.
Teach me how to gain patience, rule over my spirit and eradicate every expression of my evil inclination that attempts to keep me from serving You and attaining Your truth.
Understanding God’s Wondrous Ways Master of the world, You are higher than all, and Your goodness transcends the holiest levels — even the purest expression of “judgment.” Compared to You, the shining supernal crown itself is dark and black.
It is therefore impossible to understand how You give vitality to all reality, which is necessarily within the reality of judgment — from the highest root of holy and awesome judgment to a judgment that has descended so low that dross and waste come forth from it and take hold of it.
The evil inclination grasps judgment on every level — whether at its lowest level or its highest level, the latter being the supernal crown. The evil inclination that reaches that crown is the one possessed by the holy and awesome Tzaddikim.
All creatures receive their power and life force from You. Without You, they could lift neither hand nor foot. But You completely transcend even the root of holy judgment in all of the holy worlds. Your goodness is at such a height that it possesses no trace of judgment whatsoever. How, then, will we understand Your wondrous ways?
Relying on God’s Goodness I rely on the power of Your supernal goodness — and particularly on the merit of the holy and awesome Tzaddikim who have attained Your goodness and reveal it to Your creatures — a goodness that never ceases no matter what we have done. As the verse states, “The kindness of HaShem has not ceased, for Your compassion has not been exhausted.” I rely on the power of the Tzaddikim to blunt my teeth and blind my eyes, to bind my body and my limbs, so that I will not be beguiled by the attractions of this world but will open my mouth and cry out to You from where I stand and hope for Your salvation, and never despair of reaching any holy level in any way as I stretch my hands out to You.
Teach Me What to Say to You Master of the world, teach me what to say to You. Teach me, a fool weak in ability and counsel, the way of life, the way of true repentance, so that I will return to You soon.
Teach me the way — in physicality and in spirituality — so that I will at every moment overcome the evil inclination, the impediments and confusions of each moment, of each level, whether I am ascending or descending.
You alone know how many tens of thousands of impediments, enticements, seductions and attractions pull at me and overwhelm me every day and every moment. As our rabbis said, “Every day a person’s evil inclination rises up against him, and if the Holy One, Blessed be He, did not help him, he would fall into its hand.”
Stubbornly Serving God Help me serve You stubbornly. Do not let my thoughts distress me. Do not allow anything at all — in my mind or in the world — cast me down or distance me from You.
Merciful One, protect me from this moment on! May none of this affect me. May I not retreat from You. May I strengthen myself in You and in Your holy Torah constantly, as much as I can, with every good point that exists within me. May I gladden myself at every moment over the fact that I am a Jew, that You did not make me a gentile.
Your true Tzaddikim have encouraged us with innumerable expressions not to allow anything in the world to cast us down. The Tzaddikim and worthy people in all of the previous generations, and certainly in these weak and weary generations prior to the coming of the Mashiach, had the same experiences that I am going through.
The Side of Evil is extending itself to its length and breadth in order to weaken the minds of all of those who wish to become pious, because its end is coming soon and its days are numbered — since our righteous Mashiach will surely soon arrive and remove the spirit of impurity from the land.
Overcoming Doubt Because the Side of Evil has arisen and spread itself out against us, we lack the ability to withstand it. We need You to fight on our behalf. In particular, we require the power and merit of Your true Tzaddikim, who stand and pray for us always.
May our plight move You. Strengthen us so that we will ignore the confusing thoughts that plague us, and we will fulfill our obligations to learn Torah and pray to You.
May we stubbornly focus only on the good that we do, in accordance with Your will, and pay no attention to any doubtful thoughts, until as a result they will leave us of their own accord.
Nullifying the Evil Inclination God of the beginning and of the end, God of all the Tzaddikim, rectify me with good counsel so that I will return to You.
Crush and eradicate every type of evil inclination — whether it be the evil inclination of most people, which is a stirring up of the blood and a spirit of foolishness; or the evil inclination of truly religious people, which is like an evil spirit that has entered them; or the evil inclination of the Tzaddikim, which is literally a holy angel; or any other type of evil inclination, enticement, impediment or confusion.
May the verse be realized within us, “I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit in your midst. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My spirit in your midst and cause you to obey My ordinances and keep and perform My laws. You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you will be to Me for a nation, and I will be to you for a God. I will save you from all of your pollutions and I will call to the grain and increase it, and I will not place famine upon you.”
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה ע"ב - לְהִתְחַזֵּק בְּכָל פַּעַם נֶגֶד הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע]
טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל, אֲשֶׁר בָּרָאתָ הָעוֹלָם בִּשְׁבִיל לְגַלּוֹת טוּבְךָ וְרַחֲמָנוּתֶךָ,
Gaining a New Evil Inclination and Overcoming It / The Tzaddik’s Evil Inclination is a Holy Angel / A Tzaddik Must Sweeten Judgment / Overcoming Troubles by Overcoming One’s Evil Inclination / Too Much Holy Passion is Also a Type of Evil Inclination
Sometimes goodness awakens in a person and causes him to experience thoughts of repentance. He then engages in good deeds, which kills his evil inclination. As he becomes a good and pious person, he wants to grow more spiritual — particularly by traveling to a Tzaddik.
But as he makes his way to the Tzaddik and reaches him, he loses his original urge to connect to the Tzaddik. Why does this happen? In keeping with the principle that “the greater a person, the greater his evil inclination,” another even greater and, in a sense, more refined evil inclination has now arisen and is attacking him. In order to keep from losing his initial, idealistic urge, a person must overcome this new evil inclination.
Regarding the concept of a “greater” evil inclination, most people are low and coarse, and their evil attribute of judgment, but then He broke His attribute of judgment and partnered it with the attribute of compassion. God’s attribute of judgment corresponds to the evil inclination. Just as God created the dynamic of breaking His judgment, so too, a person can break his evil inclination.
If someone is experiencing troubles, it indicates that he is the subject of Heavenly judgment, which is associated with the evil inclination. In order to put an end to his troubles, he must do whatever he can to overcome his evil inclination, which will result in the eradication of Heavenly judgments against him.
A person who wants to be God-fearing and untroubled by bad thoughts should ignore such thoughts and instead learn Torah, pray, and engage in earning a living. He should not allow himself to fall prey to depression, which is harmful and strengthens the coarse evil inclination. Should he have idolatrous or lustful thoughts that he cannot get out of his mind, he must seek to purify his body and blood, and go to a wise man who will tell him how to repent.
Sometimes a person experiences an overwhelming passion and desire for God. This, too, is a type of evil inclination that he must work to overcome.
Overcoming the Evil Inclination
You Who are good and do good to all, You created us in order to reveal Your goodness and compassion.
וּמֵרֹב טוּבְךָ הָאֲמִתִּי וְהַנִּצְחִי אֲשֶׁר חָפַצְתָּ לְגַלּוֹת לִבְרִיּוֹתֶיךָ, נָתַתָּ בָּנוּ אֶת הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע כְּדֵי לְהַכְנִיעוֹ וּלְשַׁבְּרוֹ, כְּדֵי לִזְכּוֹת עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לְכָל טוֹב אֲמִתִּי וְנִצְחִי.
In order to appreciate Your goodness, we must possess free will. And so You planted within us not only a good inclination, but also an evil inclination that we must overcome, as a result of which we attain Your vast and eternal goodness.
כִּי דַעְתְּךָ שָׂגְבָה מְאֹד, וְיָדַעְתָּ אֲשֶׁר אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְגַלּוֹת טוּבְךָ לִבְרִיּוֹתֶיךָ כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כֹּחַ הַבְּחִירָה לָאָדָם עַל־יְדֵי שְׁנֵי הַיְצָרִין שֶׁנָּתַתָּ בּוֹ, יֵצֶר טוֹב וְיֵצֶר הָרָע. וְלַאֲשֶׁר טוּבְךָ וְהַשָּׂגַת אֲמִתָּתְךָ עוֹלֶה עַד אֵין סוֹף, וְאַתָּה חָפֵץ שֶׁנַּשִּׂיג אוֹתְךָ בְּתַכְלִית מַדְרֵגָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה, עַל כֵּן הִגְדַּלְתָּ וְהִרְבֵּיתָ בְּכֹחוֹת הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע כִּמְעַט בְּלִי שִׁעוּר. וְנָתַתָּ לוֹ כֹחַ לְהָסִית וְלִמְנֹעַ וּלְפַתּוֹת בְּכָל דַּרְגָּא וְדַרְגָּא, כְּדֵי שֶׁנִּתְגַּבֵּר בְּכָל פַּעַם לְשׁוֹבְרוֹ בְּכָל דַּרְגָּא וְדַרְגָּא וּבְכָל בְּחִינָה וּבְחִינָה, כְּדֵי לְהַשִּׂיג אֲמִתַּת אֱלָהוּתְךָ בִּשְׁלֵמוּת גָּדוֹל בְּיוֹתֵר בְּכָל פַּעַם, בְּמַדְרֵגָה לְמַעְלָה מִמַּדְרֵגָה, כִּי גָבֹהַּ מֵעַל גָּבֹהַּ שׁוֹמֵר וּגְבוֹהִים עֲלֵיהֶם.
Your goodness is infinite and the steps to attain it rise without number. You want us to comprehend You at the highest level. And so You amplified the powers of the evil inclination almost beyond measure, giving it the power to entice and impede us at every stage. This is why our rabbis state that “the greater a person, the greater his evil inclination.” You did this in order that we may attain true goodness by breaking the power of the evil inclination, which impedes and entices us at every level.
כִּי מֵעֹצֶם טוּבְךָ הַנַּעֲלֶה וְהַנִּשְׂגָּב, אַתָּה חָפֵץ לְהֵיטִיב עִמָּנוּ בְּכָל הַטּוֹב שֶׁבְּכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת בְּתַכְלִית הַמַּעֲלָה שֶׁאֵין מַעֲלָה אַחֲרָיו. וְאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַשִּׂיג הַטּוֹב הָאֲמִתִּי שֶׁבְּכָל מַדְרֵגָה וּמַדְרֵגָה, כִּי אִם עַל־יְדֵי שְׁבִירַת הַכֹּחַ הַמּוֹנֵעַ וְהַמֵּסִית וְהַמַּדִּיחַ שֶׁהוּא הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע שֶׁבְּכָל מַדְרֵגָא וּמַדְרֵגָא, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, כָּל הַגָּדוֹל מֵחֲבֵרוֹ יִצְרוֹ גָּדוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ.
And when we break its power at every level — “one higher than the high…and higher ones above them” — we reach Your goodness in the most perfect way.
וּבַעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים וּבִשְׁטוּת דַּעְתִּי הַפְּחוּתָה, לֹא דַי שֶׁלֹּא הִתְגַּבַּרְתִּי לְשַׁבְּרוֹ בְּכָל מַדְרֵגָה וּמַדְרֵגָה, אַף גַּם הִתְגָּרֶה בִּי בְּיוֹתֵר מִנְּעוּרַי, עַד אֲשֶׁר נִתְפַּסְתִּי כְּתוֹא מִכְמָר, נְתָנַנִי יְהֹוָה בִּידֵי לֹא אוּכַל קוּם.
But due to my many sins and the foolishness of my meager mind, I have not been able to break my evil inclination on every level. To the contrary, it has overcome me since my youth and I have been caught like a deer in the net. “HaShem, You placed me in the hand of an entity against whom I cannot rise.”
וְכָל מַה שֶּׁאֲנִי רוֹצֶה לִפְעָמִים לַחֲתֹּר לָצֵאת כְּחוּט הַשַּׂעֲרָה מִתַּחַת יָדוֹ, הוּא מִתְגָּרֶה וּמִתְגַּבֵּר בִּי בְּיוֹתֵר, וְכֵן הָיָה כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים בְּלִי שִׁעוּר, עַד אֲשֶׁר כָּשַׁל כֹּחַ הַסַּבָּל, צָמְתוּ בַבּוֹר חַיָּי וַיַּדּוּ אֶבֶן בִּי.
At times I struggle and attempt to escape from beneath its hand, but then it pushes me down even more. This has occurred times without measure, until “the strength of the porter has collapsed.” “They cut off my life in the dungeon and cast stones upon me.”
מָה אוֹמַר מָה אֶתְאוֹנֵן, מָה אוֹמַר מָה אֲדַבֵּר מָה אֶצְטַדָּק. אֵיכָכָה אֶפְצֶה פֶּה וְאֵיךְ אֶשָּׂא עַיִן עַתָּה עַתָּה, אֲשֶׁר הִמְשַׁכְתִּי עָלַי אֶת הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע בַּעֲוֹנוֹתַי הָרַבִּים וּבִפְשָׁעַי הָעֲצוּמִים, אוֹי מֶה הָיָה לִי, אוֹי מֶה הָיָה לִי,
What can I say? How can I justify myself? How can I open my mouth and lift my eyes to You, after I have drawn the evil inclination toward me? Woe, what has happened to me?
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַכֹּל תָּמִיד בְּכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע, אֲשֶׁר טוּבְךָ וְרַחֲמֶיךָ אֵינָם נִפְסָקִים לְעוֹלָם בְּשׁוּם עֵת וָרֶגַע. אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ גֹּדֶל תֹּקֶף הַדִּינִים הָרוֹצִים לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עָלַי בְכָל פַּעַם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
Overcoming Judgments
Master of the world, Whose goodness and compassion never cease, You know the extent of the judgments that rise up against me at every moment.
כִּי כֻלָּם מִתְגָּרִים וּמִתְקַנְּאִים בָּאִישׁ הַיִּשְׂרְאֵלִי, עַל אֲשֶׁר לִבּוֹ בּוֹעֵר תָּמִיד לְהַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְחוֹתֵר חֲתִירָה בְּכָל פַּעַם לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ וּלְהַכִּיר אוֹתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת. וּבְכָל פַּעַם וּבְכָל־עֵת וָרֶגַע שֶׁהוּא מִתְעוֹרֵר אֶת עַצְמוֹ בְּאֵיזֶה תְנוּעָה לַעֲסֹק בָּזֶה, הֵם מוֹסִפִים שְׂנֹא אוֹתוֹ, וּמִתְגָּרִים וּמִתְגַּבְּרִים וּמְקַטְרְגִים כְּנֶגְדּוֹ, כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ, לוּלֵא רַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ וְלוּלֵי כֹחַ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים הַנּוֹרָאִים הַמְּגִינִים עָלֵינוּ, כְּבָר אָבַדְנוּ בְעָנְיֵינוּ.
These judgments are jealous of every Jew because his heart always burns for You and because he strives constantly to return to You and recognize You. They hate him especially at the moment that he arouses himself to change, agitating against him and denouncing him. If not for Your compassion and kindness — in particular, if not for the power of the awesome Tzaddikim who shield us — we would have been lost in our impoverishment.
וְאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ חֲלִישׁוּת כֹּחִי וְקַשְׁיוּת עָרְפִּי וּשְׁטוּת דַּעְתִּי. וְעַתָּה אָבִי שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים, הַמְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת הַנִּרְדָּפִים, לַמְּדֵנִי וְהוֹרֵנִי בַּמֶּה יִזְכֶּה נַעַר כָּמוֹנִי, מָלֵא עֲוֹנוֹת כָּמוֹנִי, חֲלוּשׁ כֹּחַ כָּמוֹנִי, לִמְצֹא דֶּרֶךְ וּנְתִיב וְעֵצָה אֵיךְ לְהִתְחַזֵּק כְּנֶגֶד כָּל מִינֵי הַיְּצָרִים רָעִים בְּכָל פַּעַם, וְאֵיךְ לְהִתְחַכֵּם בְּחָכְמָה אֲמִתִּיִּית וּלְהִתְגַּבֵּר בְּכָל מִינֵי הִתְגַּבְּרוּת, בְּכָל־עֵת וָעֵת וּבְכָל דַּרְגָּא וְדַרְגָּא, בְּכָל מִינֵי עֲלִיּוֹת וִירִידוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם,
You know how weak, stubborn and foolish I am. And so, my Father in Heaven, You Who have mercy on the poor, You Who seek the persecuted, teach me how I, who am so insignificant, filled with sins and weakness, may strengthen myself against every aspect of the evil inclination, and gain wisdom and strength at every moment and on every level, whether I am ascending or descending.
לְהַאֲרִיךְ אַפִּי וְלִמְשֹׁל בְּרוּחִי וְלִכְבֹּשׁ אֶת יִצְרִי, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְהַכְנִיעַ וּלְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל כָּל מִינֵי יִצָרִין רָעִים וְכָל מִינֵי כֹּחוֹת הַמּוֹנְעִים מֵעֲבוֹדָתְךָ וַאֲמִתָּתְךָ,
Teach me how to gain patience, rule over my spirit and eradicate every expression of my evil inclination that attempts to keep me from serving You and attaining Your truth.
לְמַעַן אֶזְכֶּה לֵילֵךְ בִּדְרָכֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים, לָסוּר מֵרָע וְלַעֲשׂוֹת הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ תָמִיד.
Then I will be able to walk in Your holy ways, turning aside from evil and doing only that which is good in Your eyes.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ דְעַלְמָא כֹּלָּא, לְעֵלָּא מִן כֹּלָּא וְלֵית לְעֵלָּא מִנָּךְ, אֲשֶׁר אֲפִלּוּ כֶּתֶר עֶלְיוֹן אוּכָּמָא הוּא לְגַבָּךְ. וְטוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל מְרוֹמָם וּמְנֻשָּׂא עַל כָּל רוּם מַדְרֵגוֹת הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת, וְאַתָּה כֻּלּוֹ טוֹב בְּעַצְמְךָ בְּלִי שׁוּם אֲחִיזַת הַדִּין כְּלָל, אֲפִלּוּ הַדִּין הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהַטָּהוֹר, אַתָּה מְרֹמָם וּמְנֻשָּׂא מִמֶּנּוּ בְּתַכְלִית הַהִתְרוֹמְמוּת בְּדֶרֶךְ נִפְלָא וְנוֹרָא,
Understanding God’s Wondrous Ways
Master of the world, You are higher than all, and Your goodness transcends the holiest levels — even the purest expression of “judgment.” Compared to You, the shining supernal crown itself is dark and black.
אֲשֶׁר אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַשִּׂיגוֹ, אֵיךְ אַתָּה בְּעַצְמְךָ מְחַיֶּה אֶת כָּל הַדִּינִים, מִתַּכְלִית שֹׁרֶשׁ הָעֶלְיוֹן שֶׁל הַדִּין הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהַנּוֹרָא עַד סוֹף הִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת הַדִּינִים, עַד שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּלְשֵׁל וְנֶאֱחַז מֵהֶם הַסִּיגִים וְהַפְּסֹלֶת הַגָּמוּר וְכוּ'.
It is therefore impossible to understand how You give vitality to all reality, which is necessarily within the reality of judgment — from the highest root of holy and awesome judgment to a judgment that has descended so low that dross and waste come forth from it and take hold of it.
וְאַתָּה מְחַיֶּה אֶת כֻּלָּם, אֲשֶׁר מֵאֵלּוּ הַדִּינִים נֶאֱחָזִים כָּל הַיְּצָרִים הָרָעִים שֶׁבְּכָל הַמַּדְרֵגוֹת, מִתַּכְלִית דְּיוּטָא הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה עַד תַּכְלִית מַדְרֵגָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה עַד כֶּתֶר עֶלְיוֹן, שֶׁהוּא סוֹד שֹׁרֶשׁ הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים הַגְּדוֹלִים מְאֹד הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהַנּוֹרָאִים.
The evil inclination grasps judgment on every level — whether at its lowest level or its highest level, the latter being the supernal crown. The evil inclination that reaches that crown is the one possessed by the holy and awesome Tzaddikim.
וְכֻלָּם מְקַבְּלִים חַיּוּת מִמְּךָ, וּבִלְעָדֶיךָ לֹא יָרִימוּ אֶת יָדָם וְאֶת רַגְלָם, וְאֵין לָהֶם שׁוּם כֹּחַ וְחַיּוּת כָּל שֶׁהוּא כִּי אִם מִמְּךָ לְבַד, כִּי אַתָּה מְחַיֶּה אֶת כֻּלָּם. וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אַתָּה מְרֹמָם וּמְנֻשָּׂא בְּתַכְלִית הַהִתְרוֹמְמוּת וְהַהֶבְדֵּל מִכָּל שֹׁרֶשׁ הַדִּינִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁבְּכָל הָעוֹלָמוֹת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים בְּתַכְלִית הַקְּדֻשָּׁה, כִּי אַתָּה טוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת בְּתַכְלִית הַטּוֹב בְּלִי שׁוּם אֲחִיזַת הַדִּין כְּלָל, וּמִי יָבִין דַּרְכֵי פְּלָאוֹתֶיךָ:
All creatures receive their power and life force from You. Without You, they could lift neither hand nor foot. But You completely transcend even the root of holy judgment in all of the holy worlds. Your goodness is at such a height that it possesses no trace of judgment whatsoever. How, then, will we understand Your wondrous ways?
וּבְכֵן בְּכֹחַ טוּבְךָ הָעֶלְיוֹן הָאֲמִתִּי, וּבְכֹחַ הַצַּדִּיקִים הַגְּדוֹלִים הַקְּדוֹשִׁים וְהַנּוֹרָאִים אֲשֶׁר זָכוּ לְהַשִּׂיג טוּבְךָ הָאֲמִתִּי, וּלְהוֹדִיעַ וּלְגַלּוֹת טוּבְךָ לִבְרִיּוֹתֶיךָ שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִפְסַק לְעוֹלָם אֲפִלּוּ אִם עָשִׂינוּ מַה שֶּׁעָשִׂינוּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, חַסְדֵּי יְהֹוָה כִּי לֹא תָמְנוּ כִּי לֹא כָלוּ רַחֲמָיו. בְּכֹחָם הַגָּדוֹל אֲנִי נִשְׁעָן עֲדַיִן לְהַקְהוֹת אֶת שִׁנַּי וּלְסַמֵּא אֶת עֵינַי וּלְקַשֵּׁר אֶת גּוּפִי וְאֵבָרַי, וְלִפְתֹּחַ אֶת פִּי לִקְרֹא אֵלֶיךָ עֲדַיִן מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁאֲנִי שָׁם עַתָּה, וּלְצַפּוֹת לִישׁוּעָתְךָ עֲדַיִן, וְלִבְלִי לְיָאֵשׁ אֶת עַצְמִי מִשּׁוּם דַּרְגָּא קְדוֹשָׁה שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם בְּשׁוּם אֹפֶן, וְלִפְרוֹשׂ כַּפַּי וְלִשְׁטֹחַ יָדַי אֵלֶיךָ עֲדַיִן,
Relying on God’s Goodness
I rely on the power of Your supernal goodness — and particularly on the merit of the holy and awesome Tzaddikim who have attained Your goodness and reveal it to Your creatures — a goodness that never ceases no matter what we have done. As the verse states, “The kindness of HaShem has not ceased, for Your compassion has not been exhausted.” I rely on the power of the Tzaddikim to blunt my teeth and blind my eyes, to bind my body and my limbs, so that I will not be beguiled by the attractions of this world but will open my mouth and cry out to You from where I stand and hope for Your salvation, and never despair of reaching any holy level in any way as I stretch my hands out to You.
אוּלַי יֵעָתֶר לִי יְהֹוָה וְלֹא אוֹבַד, אוּלַי יָחוֹס אוּלַי יְרַחֵם:
Perhaps You will heed me, and I will not be lost! Perhaps You will be merciful!
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, לַמְּדֵנִי עַתָּה מַה לּוֹמַר לְפָנֶיךָ, לַמְּדֵנִי עַתָּה דֶרֶךְ הַחַיִּים, דֶּרֶךְ הַתְּשׁוּבָה הָאֲמִתִּיִּית לְסָכָל חֲלוּשׁ־כֹּחַ, חֲלוּשׁ עֵצָה כָּמוֹנִי, לַמְּדֵנִי עַתָּה עֵצָה אֲמִתִּיִּית, שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְקַיְּמָהּ בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ מְהֵרָה בֶּאֱמֶת.
Teach Me What to Say to You
Master of the world, teach me what to say to You. Teach me, a fool weak in ability and counsel, the way of life, the way of true repentance, so that I will return to You soon.
לַמְּדֵנִי עַתָּה הַדֶּרֶךְ וְהַנְּתִיב וְהַשְּׁבִיל בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וְרוּחָנִיּוּת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה בְּכָל־עֵת וָעֵת לְהִתְגַּבֵּר כְּנֶגֶד הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע וְהַמְּנִיעָה וְהַמְעַכֵּב וְהַמְבַלְבֵּל בְּאוֹתָהּ הָעֵת, בְּאוֹתָהּ הַמַּדְרֵגָה כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁהוּא בַּעֲלִיָּה אוֹ בִּירִידָה,
Teach me the way — in physicality and in spirituality — so that I will at every moment overcome the evil inclination, the impediments and confusions of each moment, of each level, whether I am ascending or descending.
כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתָּה לְבַד יוֹדֵעַ בְּכַמָּה וְכַמָּה אֲלָפִים וְרִבְבוֹת עִנְיָנֵי מְנִיעוֹת וְהַכְבָּדוֹת וּפִתּוּיִם וַהֲסָתוֹת וְהִתְגָּרוּת שֶׁמִּתְגָּרֶה וּמִתְגַּבֵּר כְּנֶגְדִּי בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל־עֵת מֵחָדָשׁ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, בְּכָל יוֹם יִצְרוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם מִתְגַּבֵּר עָלָיו, וְאִלְמָלֵא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹזְרוֹ הָיָה נוֹפֵל בְּיָדוֹ.
You alone know how many tens of thousands of impediments, enticements, seductions and attractions pull at me and overwhelm me every day and every moment. As our rabbis said, “Every day a person’s evil inclination rises up against him, and if the Holy One, Blessed be He, did not help him, he would fall into its hand.”
רַחֵם עָלַי לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, כִּי רַבּוּ מַכְאוֹבַי וְצָרוֹת לְבָבִי, צָרוֹת לְבָבִי הִרְחִיבוּ מְאֹד מְאֹד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר:
Have compassion on me for the sake of Your Name, because the pangs of my heart are many and broad without measure.
עָזְרֵנִי וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנִי וְזַכֵּנִי לִהְיוֹת עַקְשָׁן גָּדוֹל בַּעֲבוֹדַת יְהֹוָה, וְאַל יְבַהֲלוּנִי רַעְיוֹנַי, וְלֹא יוּכַל שׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם לְהַפִּיל אוֹתִי בְּדַעְתִּי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אוֹ לְהַרְחִיק אוֹתִי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מֵאִתְּךָ, אֲפִלּוּ אִם יִהְיֶה מַה שֶּׁיִּהְיֶה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, אֲפִלּוּ אִם יַעֲבֹר עָלַי מָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם.
Stubbornly Serving God
Help me serve You stubbornly. Do not let my thoughts distress me. Do not allow anything at all — in my mind or in the world — cast me down or distance me from You.
וְאֶהְיֶה חָזָק וְאַמִּיץ בְּדַעְתִּי לִבְלִי לְהִסְתַּכֵּל כְּלָל עַל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת הַטּוֹרְדוֹת הָרוֹצִים לְהַחֲלִישׁ דַּעְתִּי וּלְהַפִּיל אוֹתִי בְּדַעְתִּי חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, כְּאִלּוּ אָפֵס תִּקְוָה חָלִילָה,
May I firmly ignore distracting thoughts that wish to weaken me and cast me down, as though my hope is lost.
מֵחֲמַת שֶׁאֲנִי רוֹאֶה שֶׁעוֹבְרִים יָמִים וְשָׁנִים וַעֲדַיִן אֲנִי רָחוֹק מֵהַקְּדֻשָּׁה מְאֹד מְאֹד, וַחֲטָאִים וַעֲוֹנוֹת וּפְשָׁעִים נִתּוֹסְפִים בְּכָל פַּעַם רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן מֵעַתָּה.
I see that days and years have passed, and I am still far from holiness. Sins gather around me constantly.
הֵן עַל כָּל אֵלֶּה לֹא אֶסְתַּכֵּל וְלֹא אַבִּיט כְּלָל לָשׁוּב וְלִסּוֹג מֵאַחֲרֶיךָ חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מֵחֲמַת זֶה חָלִילָה, רַק אֶזְכֶּה לְהַחֲזִיק עַצְמִי בְּךָ וּבְתוֹרָתְךָ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה בְּכָל־עֵת תָּמִיד בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁאוּכַל, בְּכָל נְקֻדָּה וּנְקֻדָּה טוֹבָה שֶׁנִּמְצָא בִּי. וּלְשַׂמֵּחַ אֶת עַצְמִי בְּכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל יוֹם וּבְכָל שָׁעָה בְּמַה שֶּׁזָּכִיתִי לִהְיוֹת מִזֶּרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא עָשַׂנִי גוֹי.
Merciful One, protect me from this moment on! May none of this affect me. May I not retreat from You. May I strengthen myself in You and in Your holy Torah constantly, as much as I can, with every good point that exists within me. May I gladden myself at every moment over the fact that I am a Jew, that You did not make me a gentile.
וּלְחַפֵּשׂ וּלְבַקֵּשׁ לִמְצֹא בִּי תָמִיד נְקֻדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת מִקְּדֻשַּׁת מִצְוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּנוּ בְּכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד אֲפִלּוּ בִּי הַפָּחוּת וְהַגָּרוּעַ, וְלֵילֵךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה בְּכָל־עֵת, וּלְחַזֵּק עַצְמִי וּלְשַׂמֵּחַ נַפְשִׁי בָּזֶה תָמִיד
May I always seek good points that even a person as low as I possess as a result of performing mitzvot.
כַּאֲשֶׁר הִזְהִירוּנוּ וְחִזְּקוּנוּ צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים בְּכַמָּה לְשׁוֹנוֹת בְּלִי שִׁעוּר, לִבְלִי לִפֹּל מִשּׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם. כִּי כָאֵלֶּה וְכָאֵלֶּה עָבְרוּ עַל כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים וְהַכְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁהָיוּ בַּדּוֹרוֹת שֶׁלְּפָנֵינוּ, מִכָּל שֶׁכֵּן וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בַּדּוֹרוֹת הַלָּלוּ הַחֲלוּשִׁים וְהָעֲיֵפִים מְאֹד מְאֹד, בְּעִקְבוֹת מְשִׁיחָא,
Your true Tzaddikim have encouraged us with innumerable expressions not to allow anything in the world to cast us down. The Tzaddikim and worthy people in all of the previous generations, and certainly in these weak and weary generations prior to the coming of the Mashiach, had the same experiences that I am going through.
אֲשֶׁר הַסִּטְרָא אַחֲרָא מִתְפַּשֶּׁטֶת לְאָרְכָּהּ וּלְרָחְבָּה מֵחֲמַת שֶׁקָּרוֹב לָבוֹא עִתָּהּ, וְיָמֶיהָ לֹא יִמָּשְׁכוּ, כִּי בֹּא יָבוֹא מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ לֹא יְאַחֵר, וְיַעֲבִיר רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה מִן הָאָרֶץ. עַל כֵּן עַתָּה סָמוּךְ אֶל הַקֵּץ מִתְגַּבֵּר וּמִתְפַּשֵּׁט הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע וְהַסִּטְרָא אַחֲרָא מְאֹד מְאֹד, וּמִתְגַּבֵּר מְאֹד לְהַחֲלִישׁ דַּעַת שֶׁל כָּל הָרוֹצִים וַחֲפֵצִים לִכְנֹס בְּדַרְכֵי הַכְּשֵׁרִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים.
The Side of Evil is extending itself to its length and breadth in order to weaken the minds of all of those who wish to become pious, because its end is coming soon and its days are numbered — since our righteous Mashiach will surely soon arrive and remove the spirit of impurity from the land.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, חוֹמֵל דַּלִּים, אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ כָּל זֶה, וְאַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁלְּגֹדֶל הִתְגַּבְּרוּתָם וְהִתְפַּשְּׁטוּתָם אֵין בְּיָדֵינוּ לַעֲמֹד כְּנֶגְדָּם, כִּי אִם אַתָּה לְבַד תַּעֲמֹד בַּעֲדֵנוּ וְתִלְחוֹם מִלְחֲמוֹתֵינוּ, בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ וּבְטוּבְךָ הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִפְסַק לְעוֹלָם, וּבְכֹחַ וּזְכוּת צַדִּיקֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים הָעוֹמְדִים וּמִתְפַּלְּלִים עָלֵינוּ תָמִיד.
Overcoming Doubt
Because the Side of Evil has arisen and spread itself out against us, we lack the ability to withstand it. We need You to fight on our behalf. In particular, we require the power and merit of Your true Tzaddikim, who stand and pray for us always.
יֶהֱמוּ נָא וְיִכָמְרוּ מֵעֶיךָ עָלֵינוּ, וְזַכֵּנוּ וְחַזְּקֵנוּ וְאַמְּצֵנוּ לְבַל נִסְתַּכֵּל כְּלָל עַל כָּל הַמַּחֲשָׁבוֹת הַטּוֹרְדוֹת וְהַמְבַלְבְּלוֹת, רַק נִתְחַזֵּק לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת שֶׁלָּנוּ לַעֲסֹק בְּתוֹרָה וּתְפִלָּה,
May our plight move You. Strengthen us so that we will ignore the confusing thoughts that plague us, and we will fulfill our obligations to learn Torah and pray to You.
וְלֹא נַטֶּה אֶת רֹאשֵׁנוּ לְהִסְתַּכֵּל וּלְהָשִׁיב עַל כָּל הַבִּלְבּוּלִים הָרַבִּים כְּלָל. וְנִהְיֶה חֲזָקִים וְעַקְשָׁנִים לְהַחֲזִיק אֶת מַחֲשַׁבְתֵּנוּ בְּמַה שֶּׁאָנוּ עוֹסְקִים כִּרְצוֹנְךָ, וְלֹא נַבִּיט אַחֲרֵי הַבִּלְבּוּלִים כְּלָל עַד אֲשֶׁר יִסְתַּלְּקוּ מִמֵּילָא עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה.
May we stubbornly focus only on the good that we do, in accordance with Your will, and pay no attention to any doubtful thoughts, until as a result they will leave us of their own accord.
וְתַעַזְרֵנוּ מֵעַתָּה לְקַדֵּשׁ וּלְטַהֵר עַצְמֵנוּ כָּרָאוּי, עַד אֲשֶׁר נִזְכֶּה שֶׁלֹּא יָבוֹאוּ וְלֹא יַעֲלוּ עוֹד עַל לִבֵּנוּ שׁוּם בִּלְבּוּל וּמַחֲשָׁבָה רָעָה וְחִיצוֹנָה כְּלָל.
Help us sanctify and purify ourselves until no more doubt or evil, foreign thoughts arise in our hearts.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אֱלֹהֵי הָרִאשׁוֹנִים וְהָאַחֲרוֹנִים, אֱלֹהֵי כָל הַצַּדִּיקִים, תַּקְּנֵנִי בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לְקַיְּמָהּ בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה לָשׁוּב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם.
Nullifying the Evil Inclination
God of the beginning and of the end, God of all the Tzaddikim, rectify me with good counsel so that I will return to You.
שַׂמְּחֵנִי בִּישׁוּעָתְךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּית, וְתַמְתִּיק וּתְבַטֵּל כָּל הַדִּינִים מֵעָלַי וּמֵעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל,
Nullify all of the judgments against me as well as those against the entire Jewish people.
וּתְשַׁבֵּר וּתְמַגֵּר וְתַכְנִיעַ וְתַשְׁפִּיל וּתְכַלֶּה וּתְבַטֵּל אֶת כָּל מִינֵי יְצָרִים רָעִים מִמֶּנִּי וּמִכָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל־עֵת וָעֵת בְּכָל דַּרְגָּא וְדַרְגָּא, הֵן הַיִּצְרִין רָעִים שֶׁל רֹב הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהוּא עֲכִירַת הַדָּמִים מַמָּשׁ, רוּחַ שְׁטוּת מַמָּשׁ, הֵן הַיִּצְרִין רָעִים שֶׁל הַכְּשֵׁרִים בְּיוֹתֵר שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת אֵיזֶה דִּבּוּק רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, הֵן הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁהוּא מַלְאָךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ מַמָּשׁ, הֵן שְׁאָר מִינֵי יְצָרִים רָעִים וַהֲסָתוֹת וּפִתּוּיִים וּמְנִיעוֹת וְעִכּוּבִים וּבִלְבּוּלִים, מִכֻּלָּם תַּצִּילֵנִי אוֹתִי וְאֶת כָּל חֶבְרָתֵנוּ וְאֶת כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל־עֵת וָעֵת בְּכָל דַּרְגָּא וְדַרְגָּא,
Crush and eradicate every type of evil inclination — whether it be the evil inclination of most people, which is a stirring up of the blood and a spirit of foolishness; or the evil inclination of truly religious people, which is like an evil spirit that has entered them; or the evil inclination of the Tzaddikim, which is literally a holy angel; or any other type of evil inclination, enticement, impediment or confusion.
שֶׁאֶזְכֶּה תָמִיד לְשַׁבֵּר וּלְבַטֵּל אֶת הַיֵּצֶר הָרָע וְהַמְּנִיעָה שֶׁבְּאוֹתָהּ הַדַּרְגָּא כְּפִי אוֹתָהּ הָעֵת וְהַשָּׁעָה,
May we always nullify the evil inclination, whatever level it is on and however it appears at that moment.
וְאֶתְחַזֵּק וְאֶתְאַמֵּץ וְאֶתְגַּבֵּר בְּכָל־עֵת וּבְכָל יוֹם מֵחָדָשׁ לְהַתְחִיל לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ, וּלְהִשְׁתּוֹקֵק וּלְהִתְגַּעְגֵּעַ לַאֲמִתָּתְךָ, וּלְהַרְגִּיל עַצְמִי בְּתוֹרָתְךָ וַעֲבוֹדָתְךָ בֶּאֱמֶת בְּשִׂמְחָה:
Help me gain the strength to come close to You, to yearn for Your truth and to accustom myself to learn Your Torah and serve You with joy.
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, עֲשֵׂה אֵת אֲשֶׁר בְּחֻקֶּיךָ נֵלֵךְ וְאֶת מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ נִשְׁמֹר
Attaining a Heart of Flesh
Help us obey Your laws.
וְקַיֵּם לָנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְנָתַתִּי לָכֶם לֵב חָדָשׁ וְרוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה אֶתֵּן בְּקִרְבְּכֶם, וַהֲסִירוֹתִי לֵב הָאֶבֶן מִבְּשַׂרְכֶם, וְנָתַתִּי לָכֶם לֵב בָּשָׂר, וְאֶת רוּחִי אֶתֵּן בְּקִרְבְּכֶם, וְעָשִׂיתִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר בְּחֻקַּי תֵּלֵכוּ וּמִשְׁפָּטַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם. וִישַׁבְתֶּם בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָתַתִּי לַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶם וִהְיִיתֶם לִי לְעָם וְאָנֹכִי אֶהְיֶה לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים. וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מִכֹּל טֻמְאוֹתֵיכֶם, וְקָרָאתִי אֶל הַדָּגָן וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אוֹתוֹ וְלֹא אֶתֵּן עֲלֵיכֶם רָעָב.
May the verse be realized within us, “I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit in your midst. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My spirit in your midst and cause you to obey My ordinances and keep and perform My laws. You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you will be to Me for a nation, and I will be to you for a God. I will save you from all of your pollutions and I will call to the grain and increase it, and I will not place famine upon you.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, וְזָרַקְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם מַיִם טְהוֹרִים וּטְהַרְתֶּם מִכֹּל טֻמְאוֹתֵיכֶם וּמִכָּל גִּלּוּלֵיכֶם אֲטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם.
“I will sprinkle pure waters upon you and purify you; of all of your contaminations and all your idols will I purify you.”
הָשִׁיבָה לִי שְׂשׂוֹן יִשְׁעֶךָ וְרוּחַ נְדִיבָה תִסְמְכֵנִי.
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and may a generous spirit support me.”
לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא לִי אֱלֹהִים וְרוּחַ נָכוֹן חַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבִּי.
“God, create within me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
אַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהַי אַל תִּרְחַק מִמֶּנִּי.
Do not abandon me, HaShem. My God, do not be distant from me.
חוּשָׁה לְעֶזְרָתִי אֲדֹנָי תְּשׁוּעָתִי.
“Hurry to help me, my God, my salvation.”
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, HaShem, my Rock and my Redeemer.”