You taught the way of repentance to the rebellious daughter [Israel]; between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we are to return unto You [in repentance]. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
Long ago, from of old, You prepared the way for repentance, before You spread out the mighty heavens, and established the earth; thus, for all who return, repentance is a balm and a remedy. Those who knock at Your door, do not send them away empty-handed. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
Behold, the first to be created from dust, Adam, the first to be formed, You tried him with a light commandment,1Not to eat from the tree of knowledge. which he did not keep. You were indignant and angry with him, [and decreed] to shorten his years; but when he repented, You preserved him like the apple of Your eye. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
When his offspring [Cain] went astray by shedding his brother’s blood, You sentenced him to be a wanderer, to go from place to place; but when he returned to You and left his evil ways, You prolonged his life to seven generations, anyone who found him was forbidden to slay him. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
He [Reuben] who profaned his father’s bed, was unstable as water, his feet had almost slipped2He was almost condemned to Gehinom for his sin. had he not poured out his heart as water.3Before You in repentance. The young lion [Judah] sinned with Tamar at Enaim,4See Genesis 38:15–23. when he confessed his sin, You inclined the scale to justify him. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
He broke the barriers of the world, did [Achav] son of Omri, with his wickedness, he desired to worship the Asherim idols, and added transgression upon sin.5By causing others to do likewise. You tore up his sentence when he repented of his transgressions; You had mercy on him as he confessed and forsook [his evil way], and in You he found deliverance. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
Tongues as sharp as arrows had the people of [Ninveh] the great city, their errors and willful sins were numerous, without count; when You sent the vision of their destruction6Through the prophet Jonah. they were seized with trembling and terror; they repented properly, and it was accepted before Your glorious throne. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
You Who searches the innermost heart, and Who is girded with might, teach us that we may know to walk the straight path; if our rebelliousness is great with transgression and crookedness, for Your sake, please, cause us to return, that we should repent in the proper way. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
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.
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קהל וחזן:
Congregation and Chazzan:
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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.”
Remember not the sins of our ancestors; let Your compassion come swiftly toward us, for we have been brought very low. The sins of our youth and our transgressions, remember not; with Your kindliness remember us for the sake of Your goodness, Adonoy. Remember Your mercies, Adonoy, and kindlinesses for they are from the beginning of the world. Remember us Adonoy with favor for Your people recall us with Your deliverance. Remember Your congregation which You have acquired of old, You have redeemed the tribe of Your inheritance, this mountain of Zion where You have dwelled. Remember, Adonoy, the affection of Jerusalem, the love of Zion, forget not until eternity. Remember, Adonoy, to the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem, [it was they] who said, “Raze it, raze it to its very foundations.” You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come. Remember Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your very Self, and You said to them: “I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens; and all this land that I have promised, I will give to your descendants, and they will inherit it forever.” Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not regard the stubborness of this people, or their wickedness, or their sin.
נג. מיוסד על פי א"ב. חתום בנימין בר זרח.
This prayer was composed by Rabbi Benjamin ben Zorach.
הוֹרֵיתָ דֶּרֶךְ תְּשׁוּבָה, לְבַת הַשּׁוֹבֵבָה. בֵּין כֶּסֶא לֶעָשֹוֹר, עָדֶיךָ לָשׁוּבָה. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ, וְנָשׁוּבָה:
You taught the way of repentance to the rebellious daughter [Israel]; between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we are to return unto You [in repentance]. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
אָז מֵאָז מִקֶּדֶם, הִקְדַּמְתָּ תְּשׁוּבָה. בְּטֶרֶם הִמְתַּחְתָּ עֶרֶץ וִיסוֹדֵי רְגוּבָה. גַּם־לְכָל־הַשָּׁבִים, צֳּרִי וּמַרְפֵּא חֲשׁוּבָה. דּוֹפְקֵי דְלָתֶיךָ רֵיקָם מִלְּהָשִׁיבָה. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ, וְנָשׁוּבָה:
Long ago, from of old, You prepared the way for repentance, before You spread out the mighty heavens, and established the earth; thus, for all who return, repentance is a balm and a remedy. Those who knock at Your door, do not send them away empty-handed. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
הֵן רֹאשׁ עַפְרוֹת תֵּבֵל, אֲשֶׁר רִאשׁוֹן נוֹצָר. וְנִסִּיתוֹ בְּמִצְוָה קַלָּה, וְאוֹתָהּ לֹא־נָצָר. זָעַמְתָּ וְאָנַפְתָּ עָלָיו, שְׁנוֹתָיו לְקַצֵּר. חָזַר־בִּתְשׁוּבָה וְכָאִישׁוֹן הוּנְצָר. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ, וְנָשׁוּבָה:
Behold, the first to be created from dust, Adam, the first to be formed, You tried him with a light commandment,1Not to eat from the tree of knowledge. which he did not keep. You were indignant and angry with him, [and decreed] to shorten his years; but when he repented, You preserved him like the apple of Your eye. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
טָעָה גִזְעוֹ דְּמֵי־אָחִיו בְּשָׁפְכוֹ. יִסַּרְתּוֹ בְּנָע וָנָד, לֶכֶת כֹּה וָכֹה. כָּעֵת שָׁב־אֵלֶיךָ, וְעָזַב רֹעַ דַּרְכּוֹ. לְשִׁבְעָתַיִם הֶאֱרַכְתּוֹ, כָּל־מוֹצְאוֹ בְּלִי־לְהַכּוֹ. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ, וְנָשׁוּבָה:
When his offspring [Cain] went astray by shedding his brother’s blood, You sentenced him to be a wanderer, to go from place to place; but when he returned to You and left his evil ways, You prolonged his life to seven generations, anyone who found him was forbidden to slay him. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
מְחַלֵּל יְצוּעֵי יוֹלְדוֹ, אֲשֶׁר־פַּחַז כַּמַּיִם. נָטָיוּ רַגְלָיו כִּמְעַט, לוּלֵי שָׁפַךְ לֵב כַּמַּיִם. סָרַח גּוּר־אַרְיֵה, בִּקְדֵשָׁה הִיא בָעֵינָיִם. עֲוֹנוֹ הוֹדָה, וְהִכְרַעְתּוֹ לְצֶדֶק בְּכַף־מֹאזְנַיִם. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ, וְנָשׁוּבָה:
He [Reuben] who profaned his father’s bed, was unstable as water, his feet had almost slipped2He was almost condemned to Gehinom for his sin. had he not poured out his heart as water.3Before You in repentance. The young lion [Judah] sinned with Tamar at Enaim,4See Genesis 38:15–23. when he confessed his sin, You inclined the scale to justify him. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
פָּרַץ גִּדְרוֹת עוֹלָם, בֶּן־עָמְרִי בְּרֶשַׁע. צַלְמֵי־אֲשֵׁרִים חָשַׁק, וְהוֹסִיף־עַל חַטָּאתוֹ פָּשַׁע. קָרַעְתָּ גְּזַר דִּינוֹ בְּשׁוּבוֹ מִלִּפְשַׁע. רֻחַם כְּמוֹדֶה וְעוֹזֵב, וּבְךָ נוֹשַׁע. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ, וְנָשׁוּבָה:
He broke the barriers of the world, did [Achav] son of Omri, with his wickedness, he desired to worship the Asherim idols, and added transgression upon sin.5By causing others to do likewise. You tore up his sentence when he repented of his transgressions; You had mercy on him as he confessed and forsook [his evil way], and in You he found deliverance. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
שָׁנְנוּ לְשׁוֹנָם כְּחֵץ, אַנְשֵׁי עִיר הַגְּדוֹלָה. שִׁגְיוֹנָם וּזְדוֹנָם רָבּוּ עַד־לְמַעְלָה. תִּתְּךָ חֲזוֹן הֲפִיכָתָם, אֲחָזוּם רֶתֶת וְחַלְחָלָה. תְּשׁוּבָה עָשֹוּ כְּהֹגֶן, וְלִפְנֵי כִּסֵּא־כְבוֹדְךָ נִתְקַבְּלָה. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ, וְנָשׁוּבָה:
Tongues as sharp as arrows had the people of [Ninveh] the great city, their errors and willful sins were numerous, without count; when You sent the vision of their destruction6Through the prophet Jonah. they were seized with trembling and terror; they repented properly, and it was accepted before Your glorious throne. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
בּוֹחֵן כְלָיוֹת וָלֵב, נֶאֶזָר בִּגְבוּרָה. יַדְּעֵנוּ מַדַּע לֶכֶת בְּאֹרַח יְשָׁרָה. מְשׁוּבוֹתֵינוּ אִם־רָבּוּ בְּפֶשַׁע וּסְרָרָה. נָא לְמַעַנְךָ הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ, עֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה כַּשׁוּרָה, הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ, וְנָשׁוּבָה:
You Who searches the innermost heart, and Who is girded with might, teach us that we may know to walk the straight path; if our rebelliousness is great with transgression and crookedness, for Your sake, please, cause us to return, that we should repent in the proper way. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return.
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.”
אַל תִּזְכָּר לָנוּ עֲוֹנוֹת רִאשׁוֹנִים. מַהֵר יְקַדְּמוּנוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ כִּי דַלּוֹנוּ מְאֹד: חַטֹּאת נְעוּרֵינוּ וְפְשָׁעֵינוּ אַל תִּזְכֹּר כְּחַסְדְּךָ זְכָר לָנוּ אַתָּה לְמַעַן טוּבְךָ יְהֹוָה: זְכֹר רַחֲמֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ כִּי מֵעוֹלָם הֵֽמָּה: זָכְרֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה בִּרְצוֹן עַמֶּֽךָ פָּקְדֵֽנוּ בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ: זְכֹר עֲדָתְךָ קָנִֽיתָ קֶּֽדֶם גָּאַֽלְתָּ שֵֽׁבֶט נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ הַר צִיּוֹן זֶה שָׁכַנְתָּ בּוֹ: זְּכוֹר יְהֹוָה חִבַּת יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ אַהֲבַת צִיּוֹן אַל תִּשְׁכַּח לָנֶֽצַח: זְכֹר יְהֹוָה לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם אֵת יוֹם יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ הָאֹמְרִים עָֽרוּ עָֽרוּ עַד הַיְסוֹד בָּהּ: אַתָּה תָקוּם תְּרַחֵם צִיּוֹן. כִּי עֵת לְחֶנְנָהּ כִּי בָא מוֹעֵד: זְכֹר לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדֶֽיךָ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּֽעְתָּ לָהֶם בָּךְ וַתְּדַבֵּר אֲלֵהֶם אַרְבֶּה אֶת זַרְעֲכֶם כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמָֽיִם. וְכָל הָאָֽרֶץ הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר אָמַֽרְתִּי אֶתֵּן לְזַרְעֲכֶם וְנָחֲלוּ לְעוֹלָם: זְכֹר לַעֲבָדֶֽיךָ לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיַעֲקֹב. אַל תֵּֽפֶן אֶל קְשִׁי הָעָם הַזֶּה וְאֶל רִשְׁעוֹ וְאֶל חַטָּאתוֹ:
Remember not the sins of our ancestors; let Your compassion come swiftly toward us, for we have been brought very low. The sins of our youth and our transgressions, remember not; with Your kindliness remember us for the sake of Your goodness, Adonoy. Remember Your mercies, Adonoy, and kindlinesses for they are from the beginning of the world. Remember us Adonoy with favor for Your people recall us with Your deliverance. Remember Your congregation which You have acquired of old, You have redeemed the tribe of Your inheritance, this mountain of Zion where You have dwelled. Remember, Adonoy, the affection of Jerusalem, the love of Zion, forget not until eternity. Remember, Adonoy, to the sons of Edom, the day of Jerusalem, [it was they] who said, “Raze it, raze it to its very foundations.” You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come. Remember Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your very Self, and You said to them: “I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens; and all this land that I have promised, I will give to your descendants, and they will inherit it forever.” Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not regard the stubborness of this people, or their wickedness, or their sin.
אַל נָא תָשֵׁת עָלֵֽינוּ חַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר נוֹאַֽלְנוּ וַאֲשֶׁר חָטָֽאנוּ:
Do not, we beseech You place upon us this sin, wherein we have acted foolishly and sinned.
חָטָֽאנוּ צוּרֵֽנוּ סְלַח לָֽנוּ יוֹצְרֵֽנוּ:
We have sinned, our Rock; pardon us our Creator.