Adonoy, God of Hosts, Who is feared by the heavenly angels, You said, “Repent you stubborn children, come to Me with thanksgiving and praise, seek My Presence with tears and supplications.
Though the doors are closed to expressions of prayer, the gates are open to the penitent— even the windows, Your words stand firm for all time; Your ways of goodness are forever unchangeable.
Behold, we come before You like the poor and needy, the righteousness is Yours, and the iniquity is ours, we return to You with shameful faces, and at Your gates we moan like doves.
Remember us for a [good] proper life, cleanse our stains that they be pure and white, erase the sins of our youth, let them vanish like clouds; renew our days as the days of old.1Before we sinned.
Remove [our] defilement and abolish [our] presumptuous sins, cleanse [us] sprinkle upon us the faithful [pure] waters. We know our wickedness, we are rebellious and as evil as thorns, our necks are as stiff as oaks.
The vineyard of our planting, is overgrown with weeds [sins] it is covered with nettles and thorns [evil] accustomed to doing evil, clinging to sun-deities, taking bribes, pursuing pay-offs.
We have quickly profaned the wedding-canopy2The giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai is compared to a wedding canopy. since then we have been thrust backward and not forward, gone are the sacrifices of choice rams, the fragrance of the incense-offerings.
Gone are the captain(s) of fifty, the advisor(s), the man (men) of honor, the deputy [High Priest], the Annointed [High Priest], the Levites, and the Aaronites [sons of Aaron]. Behold! we stand impoverished and empty grieved in spirit, bitter as wormwood.
We remember You in our distress with an outpouring of prayers, in fear of Your judgement, we worry and groan; let righteousness spring forth for the faithful, Order the removal of our early iniquities.
Let the voice [of our prayer] that calls, put an end to those who contend with us, let it hush the accuser and silence the antagonists. Let our humble spirit, our subdued and broken hearts, be as acceptable to You as the fat of the sacrifice.
The oath You swore to the Patriarchs— fulfill unto their children, the cry of Your callers hear from heaven; prepare their hearts to fear You, may Your ear be attentive to the words of their supplication.
Return to raise Your people from destruction, let come swiftly to us Your former mercy, in their judgement, let Your favored ones be found innocent. They hope for Your lovingkindness, and depend on Your compassion.
For in Your abundant mercy we trust, and on Your righteousness, we rely, and for Your pardon, we hope, and for Your deliverance, we yearn. You are a King Who loves righteousness from of old, Who passes over the iniquities of His people, and removes the sins of those who fear Him. You made a covenant with the Patriarchs, and will keep [Your] oath with their descendants. You are He Who descended in the cloud of Your glory, on Mount Sinai, and disclosed the ways of Your goodness to Moses, Your servant. The ways of Your kindliness, You revealed to him; and You made known to him that You are Almighty, Merciful, Gracious, Slow to anger, Abounding in kindness, and full of beneficence, guiding the entire world with the quality of mercy. And so it is written: “And He said: ‘I will cause to pass all My goodness before you, and I will proclaim the Name, Adonoy in your presence; I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will be compassionate to whom I will be compassionate.’”
You are Almighty, Slow to Anger, Lord of Mercy, You are called, and the way of repentance, You have taught us. The greatness of Your mercy and kindliness, remember this day and every day for the descendants of Your loved ones. Turn to us with compassion for You are the Lord of Mercy. With supplication and prayer we approach Your Presence, as You made known to [Moses,] the modest one of old. From Your fierce anger turn, as it is written in Your Torah. In the shadow of Your wings, may we be sheltered and lodged, as on the day [of which it is said:] “When Adonoy descended in the cloud.” Remove [our] transgression, and blot out [our] iniquity, as on the day [of which it is said:] “And He stood with him there.” Give ear to our cry and listen to our speech, as on the day [of which it is said:] “And He proclaimed the Name, Adonoy” And there it is said:
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קהל וחזן:
Congregation and Chazzan:
17
וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהֺוָה 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.
Do not enter into judgment with us, for no living soul will be justified before You. Seek Adonoy when He is accessible, call Him when He is near. Adonoy is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. Adonoy is close to the broken-hearted, and those crushed in spirit, He delivers. For what nation is there so great that has God so near unto them, as Adonoy, our God in all that we call upon Him? For Your sake, our God, act! and not for our sake. See how we stand impoverished and empty.
As a father has compassion on his children so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy. Deliverance is Adonoy’s; upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah! Adonoy of Hosts is with us, a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah! Adonoy of Hosts! fortunate is the man who trusts in You. Adonoy, deliver us! the King will answer us on the day we call.
“Please pardon the sins of this nation in accordance with the greatness of Your lovingkindness; and as You forgave this people from when it left Egypt until now.” And there it is said:
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הקהל אומרים:
The Congregation says:
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וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:
“And Adonoy said, I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”
Incline Your ear, my God, and hear, open Your eyes and behold our desolate places, and the city which is called by Your Name; for it is not on account of our righteousness that we let fall our supplication before You, but because of Your great mercy. My Master, hear! My Master, pardon! My Master, listen and take action, do not delay! For Your sake, my God, because Your Name is proclaimed over Your city and over Your people.
כג. ע"פ א"ב כפול. חיברו רבנו שלמה ב"ר יצחק (רש"י)
The following prayer was composed by Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (Rashi).
יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי הַצְּבָאוֹת, נוֹרָא בָעֶלְיוֹנִים. אָמַרְתָּ שׁוּבוּ בָנִים סַרְבָנִים: בֹּאוּ עָדַי בְּתוֹדָה וּבִרְנָנִים. בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנַי בִּבְכִי וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים:
Adonoy, God of Hosts, Who is feared by the heavenly angels, You said, “Repent you stubborn children, come to Me with thanksgiving and praise, seek My Presence with tears and supplications.
גַּם כִּי־נִסְתְּמָה תְּפִלַּת הֶגְיוֹנִים. גַּלֵּי שָׁבִים פְּתוּחִים כֵּיוָנִים: דְּבָרְךָ נִצָּב לְעוֹלְמֵי עִדָּנִים. דַּרְכֵי־טוּבְךָ נֶצַח לֹא שׁוֹנִים:
Though the doors are closed to expressions of prayer, the gates are open to the penitent— even the windows, Your words stand firm for all time; Your ways of goodness are forever unchangeable.
הִנְּנוּ אָתָאנוּ־לְךָ כְּדַלִּים וְאֶבְיוֹנִים. הַצְּדָקוֹת לְךָ, וְלָנוּ הָעֲווֹנִים: וְעָדֶיךָ שַׁבְנוּ בְּבֹשֶׁת־הַפָּנִים. וְעַל־דַּלְתוֹתֶיךָ הוֹגִים כַּיּוֹנִים:
Behold, we come before You like the poor and needy, the righteousness is Yours, and the iniquity is ours, we return to You with shameful faces, and at Your gates we moan like doves.
זָכְרֵנוּ לְחַיִּים מְתֻקָּנִים. זַכֵּה כְתָמֵינוּ צַחִים מֻלְבָּנִים: חַטֹּאת נְעוּרֵינוּ מְחֵה כַּעֲנָנִים. חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵינוּ כְיָמִים קַדְמוֹנִים:
Remember us for a [good] proper life, cleanse our stains that they be pure and white, erase the sins of our youth, let them vanish like clouds; renew our days as the days of old.1Before we sinned.
טֻמְאָה הַעֲבֵר וְהָתֵם הַזֵּדוֹנִים. טַהֳרָה תִּזְרֹק מַיִם־הַנֶּאֱמָנִים: יָדַעְנוּ רִשְׁעֵנוּ סָרָבִים וְסַלּוֹנִים. יַקְשׁוּת־עָרְפֵּנוּ חָסוֹן כָּאַלּוֹנִים:
Remove [our] defilement and abolish [our] presumptuous sins, cleanse [us] sprinkle upon us the faithful [pure] waters. We know our wickedness, we are rebellious and as evil as thorns, our necks are as stiff as oaks.
כֶּרֶם נִטְעֵנוּ סִגְסֵג נִצָּנִים. כָּסּוּ פָנָיו חֲרֻלִּים קִמְשׁוֹנִים: לִמּוּדֵי הָרֵעַ צְמוּדֵי־חַמָּנִים. לוֹקְחֵי־שֹׁחַד רוֹדְפֵי־שַׁלְמוֹנִים:
The vineyard of our planting, is overgrown with weeds [sins] it is covered with nettles and thorns [evil] accustomed to doing evil, clinging to sun-deities, taking bribes, pursuing pay-offs.
מַהֵר קִלְקַלְנוּ חֻפַּת חִתּוּנִים. מֵאָז הֻסַּגְנוּ לְאָחוֹר וְלֹא־לְפָנִים. נָעוּ זִבְחֵי הַכָּרִים הַמִּשְׁנִים. נִיחֹחֵי רֵיחַ־קְטֹרֶת סַמְמָנִים:
We have quickly profaned the wedding-canopy2The giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai is compared to a wedding canopy. since then we have been thrust backward and not forward, gone are the sacrifices of choice rams, the fragrance of the incense-offerings.
שַֹר חֲמִשִּׁים יוֹעֵץ וּנְשֹוּא־פָנִים. סֶגֶן מָשׁוּחַ לְוִיִּים וְאַהֲרֹנִים: עֲמִידָתֵנוּ רְאֵה דַּלִּים וְרֵיקָנִים. עֲצֵבֵי־רוּחַ מְרוֹרִים כְּלַעֲנִים:
Gone are the captain(s) of fifty, the advisor(s), the man (men) of honor, the deputy [High Priest], the Annointed [High Priest], the Levites, and the Aaronites [sons of Aaron]. Behold! we stand impoverished and empty grieved in spirit, bitter as wormwood.
פְּקַדְנוּךָ בַּצַּר לַחַשׁ צְקוֹנִים. פַּחַד דִּינֶךָ דּוֹאֲגִים וּמִתְאוֹנְנִים: צֶמַח־צְדָקָה הַצְמַח לְנֶּאֱמָנִים. צַוֵּה לְהַעֲבִיר עֲוֹנוֹת רִאשֹׁנִים:
We remember You in our distress with an outpouring of prayers, in fear of Your judgement, we worry and groan; let righteousness spring forth for the faithful, Order the removal of our early iniquities.
קוֹל הַקּוֹרֵא יַשְׁבִּית מְדַיְנִים. קַטֵּגוֹר יַהַס וְיַשְׁתִּיק נִרְגָּנִים: רוּחַ נְכֵאָה, דִּכְּאוּת לֵב שִׁבְרוֹנִים. רָצוֹן יַעֲלוּ כְּחֶלְבֵי קָרְבָּנִים:
Let the voice [of our prayer] that calls, put an end to those who contend with us, let it hush the accuser and silence the antagonists. Let our humble spirit, our subdued and broken hearts, be as acceptable to You as the fat of the sacrifice.
שְׁבוּעַת־אָבוֹת הָקֵים לַבָּנִים. שַׁוְעַת־קוֹרְאֶיךָ תִּשְׁמַע מִמְּעוֹנִים: תָּכִין לִבָּם לְיִרְאָתְךָ מוּכָנִים. תַּקְשִׁיב אָזְנֶיךָ שִֹיחַ־חִנּוּנִים:
The oath You swore to the Patriarchs— fulfill unto their children, the cry of Your callers hear from heaven; prepare their hearts to fear You, may Your ear be attentive to the words of their supplication.
שׁוּב לְהַעֲלוֹת עַמְּךָ מִשְּׁאוֹנִים. מַהֵר יְקַדְּמוּנוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ קַדְמוֹנִים. בְּרִיבָם יֵצְאוּ חֲנוּנֶיךָ כֵּנִים. קוִֹים חֲסָדֶיךָ וְעַל־רַחֲמֶיךָ שְׁעוּנִים:
Return to raise Your people from destruction, let come swiftly to us Your former mercy, in their judgement, let Your favored ones be found innocent. They hope for Your lovingkindness, and depend on Your compassion.
כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים אָנוּ בְטוּחִים, וְעַל צִדְקוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים, וְלִסְלִיחוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ מְקַוִּים, וְלִישׁוּעָתְךָ אָנוּ מְצַפִּים: אַתָּה הוּא מֶלֶךְ, אוֹהֵב צְדָקוֹת מִקֶּדֶם, מַעֲבִיר עֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ, וּמֵסִיר חַטֹּאת יְרֵאָיו: כּוֹרֵת בְּרִית לָרִאשׁוֹנִים, וּמְקַיֵּם שְׁבוּעָה לָאַחֲרוֹנִים: אַתָּה הוּא, שֶׁיָּרַדְתָּ בַּעֲנַן כְּבוֹדֶךָ עַל הַר סִינַי, וְהֶרְאֵיתָ דַּרְכֵי טוּבְךָ לְמֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ: וְאָרְחוֹת חֲסָדֶיךָ גִּלִּיתָ לוֹ, וְהוֹדַעְתּוֹ כִּי אַתָּה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן, אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד וּמַרְבֶּה לְהֵטִיב, וּמַנְהִיג אֶת־כָּל־הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים: וְכֵן כָּתוּב: וַיֹּאמֶר אֲנִי אַעֲבִיר כָּל־טוּבִי עַל־פָּנֶיךָ וְקָרָאתִי בְשֵׁם יְהוָה לְפָנֶיךָ. וְחַנֹּתִי אֶת אֲשֶׁר אָחֹן, וְרִחַמְתִּי אֶת־אֲשֶׁר אֲרַחֵם:
For in Your abundant mercy we trust, and on Your righteousness, we rely, and for Your pardon, we hope, and for Your deliverance, we yearn. You are a King Who loves righteousness from of old, Who passes over the iniquities of His people, and removes the sins of those who fear Him. You made a covenant with the Patriarchs, and will keep [Your] oath with their descendants. You are He Who descended in the cloud of Your glory, on Mount Sinai, and disclosed the ways of Your goodness to Moses, Your servant. The ways of Your kindliness, You revealed to him; and You made known to him that You are Almighty, Merciful, Gracious, Slow to anger, Abounding in kindness, and full of beneficence, guiding the entire world with the quality of mercy. And so it is written: “And He said: ‘I will cause to pass all My goodness before you, and I will proclaim the Name, Adonoy in your presence; I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will be compassionate to whom I will be compassionate.’”
אֵל אֶֽרֶךְ־אַפַּֽיִם אַתָּה. וּבַֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים נִקְרֵֽאתָ. וְדֶֽרֶךְ תְּשׁוּבָה הוֹרֵֽיתָ: גְּדֻלַּת רַחֲמֶֽיךָ וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ. תִּזְכֺּר הַיּוֹם וּבְכָל־יוֹם לְזֶֽרַע יְדִידֶֽיךָ: תֵּֽפֶן אֵלֵֽינוּ בְּרַחֲמִים. כִּי אַתָּה הוּא בַּֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים: בְּתַחֲנוּן וּבִתְפִלָּה פָּנֶֽיךָ נְקַדֵּם. כְּהוֹדַֽעְתָּ לֶעָנָיו מִקֶּֽדֶם: מֵחֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ שׁוּב. כְּמוֹ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ כָּתוּב: וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶֽיךָ נֶחֱסֶה וְנִתְלוֹנָן. כְּיוֹם וַיֵֽרֶד יְהֺוָה בֶּעָנָן: תַּעֲבֺר עַל־פֶּֽשַׁע וְתִמְחֶה אָשָׁם. כְּיוֹם וַַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם: תַּאֲזִין שַׁוְעָתֵֽנוּ וְתַקְשִׁיב מֶֽנוּ מַאֲמַר. כְּיוֹם וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה, וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:
You are Almighty, Slow to Anger, Lord of Mercy, You are called, and the way of repentance, You have taught us. The greatness of Your mercy and kindliness, remember this day and every day for the descendants of Your loved ones. Turn to us with compassion for You are the Lord of Mercy. With supplication and prayer we approach Your Presence, as You made known to [Moses,] the modest one of old. From Your fierce anger turn, as it is written in Your Torah. In the shadow of Your wings, may we be sheltered and lodged, as on the day [of which it is said:] “When Adonoy descended in the cloud.” Remove [our] transgression, and blot out [our] iniquity, as on the day [of which it is said:] “And He stood with him there.” Give ear to our cry and listen to our speech, as on the day [of which it is said:] “And He proclaimed the Name, Adonoy” And there it is said:
קהל וחזן:
Congregation and Chazzan:
וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהֺוָה עַל פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא:
“And Adonoy passed before him [Moses] and proclaimed:
יְהֺוָה יְהֺוָה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד וֶאֱמֶת: נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד לָאֲלָפִים נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה וְנַקֵּה: וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֺנֵֽנוּ 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 אֲדֺנָי טוֹב וְסַלָּח וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד לְכָל־קוֹרְאֶֽיךָ:
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.
אַל תָּבֹא בְּמִשְׁפָּט עִמָּנוּ כִּי לֹא יִצְדַּק לְפָנֶֽיךָ כָּל חָי: דִּרְשׁוּ יְהוָה בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ קְרָאֻהוּ בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב׃ קָרוֹב יְהוָה לְכָל־קֹרְאָיו, לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת׃ קָרוֹב יְהוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵב וְאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־רוּחַ יוֹשִׁיעַ׃ כִּי מִי־גוֹי גָּדוֹל אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ אֱלֹהִים קְרֹבִים אֵלָיו כַּיהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּכָּל־קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו׃ לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ עֲשֵׂה וְלֹא לָנוּ. רְאֵה עֲמִידָתֵֽנוּ דַּלִּים וְרֵקִים:
Do not enter into judgment with us, for no living soul will be justified before You. Seek Adonoy when He is accessible, call Him when He is near. Adonoy is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. Adonoy is close to the broken-hearted, and those crushed in spirit, He delivers. For what nation is there so great that has God so near unto them, as Adonoy, our God in all that we call upon Him? For Your sake, our God, act! and not for our sake. See how we stand impoverished and empty.
כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים כֵּן תְּרַחֵם יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ: לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה, עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה: יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ, אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה: יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת, אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּֽטֵֽחַ בָּךְ: יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה, הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ:
As a father has compassion on his children so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy. Deliverance is Adonoy’s; upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah! Adonoy of Hosts is with us, a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah! Adonoy of Hosts! fortunate is the man who trusts in You. Adonoy, deliver us! the King will answer us on the day we call.
קהל ואח"כ חזן:
The Chazzan repeats after the congregation:
סְלַח נָא לַעֲוֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה, כְּגֹֽדֶל חַסְדֶּֽךָ. וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָֽׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה. מִמִּצְרַֽיִם וְעַד הֵֽנָּה. וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:
“Please pardon the sins of this nation in accordance with the greatness of Your lovingkindness; and as You forgave this people from when it left Egypt until now.” And there it is said:
הקהל אומרים:
The Congregation says:
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:
“And Adonoy said, I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”
הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמָע, פְּקַח עֵינֶֽיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵֽינוּ, וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶֽיהָ כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקֹתֵֽינוּ, אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ, כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים: אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָֽעָה, אֲדֹנָי סְלָֽחָה, אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִֽׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה, אַל תְּאַחַר. לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי, כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא עַל עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּֽךָ:
Incline Your ear, my God, and hear, open Your eyes and behold our desolate places, and the city which is called by Your Name; for it is not on account of our righteousness that we let fall our supplication before You, but because of Your great mercy. My Master, hear! My Master, pardon! My Master, listen and take action, do not delay! For Your sake, my God, because Your Name is proclaimed over Your city and over Your people.