The afflictions dispatched against a person are made to take an oath that they will begin only on a set date and end only on a set date, and at a set time, and [carry out their mission] only through the designated means. Nevertheless, repentance, prayer and charity have the power to nullify their oath.
א. בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמְּשַׁגְּרִין עַל הָאָדָם אֶת הַיִּסּוּרִין, מַשְׁבִּיעִין עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁלּא יֵלְכוּ אֶלָּא בְּיּוֹם פְּלוֹנִי וְלא יֵצְאוּ אֶלָּא בְּיוֹם פְּלוֹנִי וּבְשָׁעָה פְּלוֹנִית וְעַל־יְדֵי סַם פְּלוֹנִי. אֲבָל "תְּשׁוּבָה תְּפִלָּה וּצְדָקָה" מְבַטְּלִין הַשְּׁבוּעָה.
The afflictions dispatched against a person are made to take an oath that they will begin only on a set date and end only on a set date, and at a set time, and [carry out their mission] only through the designated means. Nevertheless, repentance, prayer and charity have the power to nullify their oath.