If our iniquities testify against us, we come before You [with remorse] and we rely on Your [merciful] Name; as a father has mercy on his children, so too have mercy on us, as one who is comforted by his mother, may we be comforted by You. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
You Adonoy are good and forgiving, but the evil inclination has corrupted us, —Your children—despite their transgression You will not cast them off; our devastated hearts are gripped by sin.4The stench of our sin. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
You Who are great in kindness, Who preserves merit for thousands of generations, deal with us with Your mercy and kindness, and not with the opposite attributes. Your promise5Of benevolence. was not empty or misleading, therefore we yearn for Your kindness as those who are exhausted and faint. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
With rapt attention [Your] messenger6Moses. listened [to Your words that he might know] if even those who desecrate Your Torah might still be saved; You strengthened him [by] teaching him Your way of amnesty, with that same attribute, acquit us. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
Remembering forgotten things— this is Your praise, You diminish [Your] anger, [causing it to last] no longer than a spoken word; [therefore] articulate life [for us] in Your judgement. Grant us undeserved grace as You search our hearts. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
Into the mud amidst the stormy sea cause our sins to sink— the unintentional, the intentional, the hidden ones and the revealed; [You] know that our [evil] inclination has caused us to do these deeds, lift Your hand to do good for us. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
You search the innards of man and the paths of his heart, [to know] does he walk in the proper and upright path or does he follow the whim of his heart? Is his heart humble or is he insulting? Let the bitterness of sin be sweetened [with repentance], that he not return as a “dog to his vomit.”7An idiomatic expression used by the Sages to describe one who returns to his previous sin. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
You save even those whose judgements indicate a death penalty, we cry out to You with yearning: lighten and remove the burden of iniquity lest it becomes part of us; may our sins be forgiven and forgotten when the Accuser comes to indict us. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
[Although] the record of our guilt has been signed by witnesses, declare his indictment a forgery and thereby silence his claim; our sins are as visible as a stain, through Your mercy, let them be removed. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
Clear the stone8This refers to the Evil Inclination which is an impediment to us. from Your path let it be straightened; turn to our never emptying river of tears, this rock9See previous note. is an obstacle for young and old— destroy it, and as an eagle has mercy on her nestlings have mercy on Your habitation. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
“Quick to be appeased”—this is Your praise, the heavy yoke born by Your legion— let it be modified and exchanged; Your quarrel [with the sinner] is not eternal, have mercy [even] in Your anger, [even] when You exercise judgement. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
Some repent in their later years, but more praiseworthy are those who repent in their earlier years, it is good to be implanted in uprighteness, from early youth; shield us, free us from Your anger, be gracious with us. The letter ‘Tov,’ symbolizing life, 10See Mesechet Shabbos 55a. (תחיה) engrave on our foreheads. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
Extend greetings of peace to the penitent, [though he has sanctified himself only] a bit, help him—sanctify him in great measure. The righteous11The word בַכּוּרוֹת actually refers to ripe figs. See Mesechet Eruvin 21b where the righteous are referred to as ripe figs. and their opposites— unite them in pleasantness. let the righteous and begrudger be together in pleasantness. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
Almighty! King! Who sits on the throne of mercy, governs with kindness forgives the iniquities of His people. He removes their sins one by one, increasing forgiveness to sinners, and pardon to transgressors. Acting righteously with all who are of flesh and spirit; not according to their wickedness does He repay them. Almighty! You instructed us to recite the thirteen Divine attributes; remember unto us this day the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes, as You made them known to the humble Moses of old, as it is written, “And Adonoy descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.
16
קהל וחזן:
Congregation and Chazzan:
17
וַיַּֽעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא:
And Adonoy passed before him [Moses]; and proclaimed:
Adonoy, Adonoy, Almighty, Merciful, Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth. Keeper of kindness for thousands of generations, Endurer of iniquity, and transgression, and sin; and Acquitter of those who repent.” “And pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.”
Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned, forgive us our King, for we have transgressed. “For You, my Master, are good and forgiving, and abounding in kindness to all who call upon You.”
כב. מיוסד על פי א"ב כפול. חתום שלמה הבבלי.
אִם עֲוֹנֵינוּ עָנוּ בָנוּ. אָתָאנוּ לְךָ וּבְשִׁמְךָ בָאנוּ. כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים רַחֲמֵנוּ. כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אִמּוֹ תְּנַחֲמֶנּוּ. אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
If our iniquities testify against us, we come before You [with remorse] and we rely on Your [merciful] Name; as a father has mercy on his children, so too have mercy on us, as one who is comforted by his mother, may we be comforted by You. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
אַתָּה יְהֹוָה טוֹב וְסַלָּח. אוֹתָנוּ רֹעַ יֵצֶר אִלַּח. בָּנֶיךָ בְּיַד פִּשְׁעָם מִלְּשַׁלַּח. בְּיַד מַסְרִיוֹת לִבֵּנוּ הַמְלָח: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
You Adonoy are good and forgiving, but the evil inclination has corrupted us, —Your children—despite their transgression You will not cast them off; our devastated hearts are gripped by sin.4The stench of our sin. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
גְּדוֹל חֶסֶד נוֹצֵר לָאֲלָפִים. גַּלְגֵּל רַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ וְלֹא חִלּוּפִים. דְּבָרְךָ לֹא רֵיקָם וְסִלּוּפִים. דִּמִּינוּ חַסְדְּךָ כַּעֲיֵיפִים וְעִלּוּפִים: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
You Who are great in kindness, Who preserves merit for thousands of generations, deal with us with Your mercy and kindness, and not with the opposite attributes. Your promise5Of benevolence. was not empty or misleading, therefore we yearn for Your kindness as those who are exhausted and faint. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
הַסְכֵּת צִית צִיר הִתְבּוֹנֵן. הָחֵל דְּבָרֶיךָ אִם לְגוֹנֵן. וִתַּקְתּוֹ דְּרָכֶיךָ חִנּוּן שַׁנֵּן. וּבָהּ בְּמִדָּה אוֹתָנוּ חַנֵּן: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
With rapt attention [Your] messenger6Moses. listened [to Your words that he might know] if even those who desecrate Your Torah might still be saved; You strengthened him [by] teaching him Your way of amnesty, with that same attribute, acquit us. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
זְכוֹר נִשְׁכָּחוֹת לְךָ הִלּוּל. זַעַם תַּקְטִין כְּרֶגַע מִלּוּל. חֲתֹךְ חַיִּים דִּין פִּלּוּל. חֹן חִנָּם חוֹקְרֶךָ חָלוּל: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
Remembering forgotten things— this is Your praise, You diminish [Your] anger, [causing it to last] no longer than a spoken word; [therefore] articulate life [for us] in Your judgement. Grant us undeserved grace as You search our hearts. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
טִיט נִגְרַשׁ תּוֹכוֹ תַצְלִיל. טוֹעַ זָדוֹן טָמוּן וַעֲלִיל. יוֹדֵעַ יֵצֶר מַה מַעֲלִיל. יָד לְטוֹבָה עָלֵינוּ תַגְלִיל: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
Into the mud amidst the stormy sea cause our sins to sink— the unintentional, the intentional, the hidden ones and the revealed; [You] know that our [evil] inclination has caused us to do these deeds, lift Your hand to do good for us. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
כְּלָיוֹת בּוֹחֵן וּשְׁבִילֵי לֵב. כַּשְׁרוּת יַשְׁרוּת וּשְׁרִירוּת הַלֵּב. לֵב עָלוּב עִם עוֹלֵב. לַעַן מָתוֹק שׁוּב וּמַכְלֵב: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
You search the innards of man and the paths of his heart, [to know] does he walk in the proper and upright path or does he follow the whim of his heart? Is his heart humble or is he insulting? Let the bitterness of sin be sweetened [with repentance], that he not return as a “dog to his vomit.”7An idiomatic expression used by the Sages to describe one who returns to his previous sin. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
מַצִּיל מָטֵי דִין הֶרֶג. מְקוֹרֶרֶת לְךָ עֶרֶג. נַקֵּל שֶׁקֶל עָוֹן מֵהִשְׂתָּרֵג. נָשׂוּי נָשׂוּי בְּבֹא מְקַטְרֵג: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
You save even those whose judgements indicate a death penalty, we cry out to You with yearning: lighten and remove the burden of iniquity lest it becomes part of us; may our sins be forgiven and forgotten when the Accuser comes to indict us. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
סִרְחוֹן כְּתָב עֵד הַנֶּחְתָּם. סִפְרוֹ זַיֵּף טַעַן הִסְתַּתָּם. עָוֹן עַיִן הַנִּכְתָּם. עַל יַד רַחֲמֶיךָ יִתָּם: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
[Although] the record of our guilt has been signed by witnesses, declare his indictment a forgery and thereby silence his claim; our sins are as visible as a stain, through Your mercy, let them be removed. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
פַּנֵּה אֶבֶן מִדַּרְכְּךָ הִתַּקֵּן. פַּלְגֵי מַיִם פָּנוּי מִלְּהִתְרוֹקֵן. צוּר, מִכְשׁוֹל נַעַר וְזָקֵן צַמֵּת, וּכְרַחֲמָן רַחֵם הַקֵּן: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
Clear the stone8This refers to the Evil Inclination which is an impediment to us. from Your path let it be straightened; turn to our never emptying river of tears, this rock9See previous note. is an obstacle for young and old— destroy it, and as an eagle has mercy on her nestlings have mercy on Your habitation. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
קָרוֹב לְרַצּוֹת קִלּוּסָךְ אָמוּר. קוּשִׁי לִגְיוֹנָךְ שָׁנוּי וְתָמוּר. רִיבָךְ לֹא לָנֶצַח שָׁמוּר. רַחֵם בְּרֹגֶז דִּין גָּמוּר: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
“Quick to be appeased”—this is Your praise, the heavy yoke born by Your legion— let it be modified and exchanged; Your quarrel [with the sinner] is not eternal, have mercy [even] in Your anger, [even] when You exercise judgement. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
שָׂבִים שָׁבִים שֶׁבַח שַׁחֲרוּת. שְׁתוּלִים יֹשֶׁר יַלְדוּת בַּחֲרוּת. תָּגֵן חֵרוּת מִצַּד תַּחֲרוּת. תָּחֹן תָּו חַיִּים חָרוּת. אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
Some repent in their later years, but more praiseworthy are those who repent in their earlier years, it is good to be implanted in uprighteness, from early youth; shield us, free us from Your anger, be gracious with us. The letter ‘Tov,’ symbolizing life, 10See Mesechet Shabbos 55a. (תחיה) engrave on our foreheads. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם בַּשֵּׂר מִתְקָרֵב. מְעַט סְיַע קַדֵּשׁ הֶרֶב. הַבַּכּוּרוֹת וְחִלּוּפֵיהֶן כְּאַחַת עָרֵב. הַקּוֹשֶׁט וְטִינָא יַחַד עָרֵב: אַל בְּאַפֶּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיטֵנוּ:
Extend greetings of peace to the penitent, [though he has sanctified himself only] a bit, help him—sanctify him in great measure. The righteous11The word בַכּוּרוֹת actually refers to ripe figs. See Mesechet Eruvin 21b where the righteous are referred to as ripe figs. and their opposites— unite them in pleasantness. let the righteous and begrudger be together in pleasantness. Do not rebuke us with Your anger, lest we be [completely] diminished.
אֵל מֶֽלֶךְ. יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים. מִתְנַהֵג בַּחֲסִידוּת. מוֹחֵל עֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ. מַעֲבִיר רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן. מַרְבֶּה מְחִילָה לְחַטָּאִים וּסְלִיחָה לְפוֹשְׁעִים. עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקוֹת עִם כָּל בָּשָׂר וָרֽוּחַ. לֹא כְרָעָתָם תִּגְמוֹל: אֵל הוֹרֵיתָ לָנוּ לוֹמַר שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. וּזְכָר לָֽנוּ הַיּוֹם בְּרִית שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹדַֽעְתָּ לֶעָנָו מִקֶּֽדֶם. כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב וַיֵּרֶד יְהֹוָה בֶּֽעָנָן וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה:
Almighty! King! Who sits on the throne of mercy, governs with kindness forgives the iniquities of His people. He removes their sins one by one, increasing forgiveness to sinners, and pardon to transgressors. Acting righteously with all who are of flesh and spirit; not according to their wickedness does He repay them. Almighty! You instructed us to recite the thirteen Divine attributes; remember unto us this day the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes, as You made them known to the humble Moses of old, as it is written, “And Adonoy descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.
קהל וחזן:
Congregation and Chazzan:
וַיַּֽעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא:
And Adonoy passed before him [Moses]; and proclaimed:
יְהֹוָה יְהֹוָה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם וְרַב חֶֽסֶד וֶֽאֱמֶת: נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד לָאֲלָפִים נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה וְנַקֵּה: וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֹנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:
Adonoy, Adonoy, Almighty, Merciful, Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness, and Truth. Keeper of kindness for thousands of generations, Endurer of iniquity, and transgression, and sin; and Acquitter of those who repent.” “And pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.”
סְלַח לָֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ כִּי חָטָֽאנוּ. מְחַל לָֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כִּי פָשָֽׁעְנוּ: כִּי אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי טוֹב וְסַלָּח וְרַב חֶֽסֶד לְכָל קֹרְאֶֽיךָ:
Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned, forgive us our King, for we have transgressed. “For You, my Master, are good and forgiving, and abounding in kindness to all who call upon You.”