ליום רביעי דעשי"ת 3

עח. חתום אלחנן בר יצחק

אֵשֶׁת נְעוּרִים הָאֲהוּבָה.

[Israel] beloved¹To God. as the wife of one’s youth,

אֲשֶׁר אֵרַשְׂתָּהּ

which You betrothed

בְּרֹב־מֹהַר וְרֹב־טוֹבָה.

with a great dowry and lavish gifts;

וְאֵיךְ עַתָּה יוֹשֶׁבֶת עֲלוּבָה.

how she now sits in disgrace,

גְּעוּלָה וּמְאוּסָה וַעֲזוּבָה:

abominated, ugly and forsaken.

לְבוּשָׁה

She²Israel. who was bedecked

בַּעֲדִי עֲדָיִים.

with precious ornaments,

אֲשֶׁר הִתְנֵיתָ בִּבְרִית

with whom You made a covenant

וּבִתְנָאִים.

and stipulations;³To observe the Torah.

וְאֵיךְ עַתָּה סוֹבֶבֶת דְּלָתַיִם.

how she now goes from door to door⁴Like a poor beggar.

וְשׁוֹכֶבֶת בֵּין שְׁפַתָּיִם:

and sleeps among the stone heaps.

חֲבוּשָׁה בְּשֵׁשׁ וּמֶשִׁי כְּלוּלָה.

She who was garbed in linen and silks,

הִיא הָיְתָה

she who was

בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ מְהֻלָּלָה.

praised throughout the world;

וְאֵיךְ עַתָּה נֶחְשֶׁבֶת מְחֻלָּלָה.

how she is now considered profaned,

לְלַעַג וּלְבֹשֶׁת וְלִקְלָלָה:

to be mocked, humiliated and cursed.

נְוַת פְּעָמִים בִּנְעָלֶיהָ.

She who was beautiful in her footsteps,⁵As she went up to the temple on the Pilgrimage Festivals.

אֲשֶׁר כְּנָפֶיךָ פְּרוּשִׂים עָלֶיהָ.

upon whom Your wings were spread;⁶You protected her.

וְאֵיךְ עַתָּה נִגְּפוּ רַגְלֶיהָ.

how her feet are now wounded

עַל־הֶהָרִים אַחַר עוֹלָלֶיהָ:

as she walks the mountains after her young.

נָא

Please,

יוֹשֵׁב הַכְּרוּבִים.

You Who are enthroned on the Cherubim,

תֵּרֶא בְּכָל־זֹאת

see how despite all this,

לֹא־פָנְתָה אֶל־רְהָבִים.

she has not turned to the arrogant [nations]

לֹא עַל פָּרָשִׁים

nor placed her trust on armed cavalry

וְלֹא עַל־רוֹכְבִים.

or on their soldiers,

כִּי עַל־רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים:

but only in Your abundant mercy.

כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים

For in Your abundant mercy

אָנוּ בְטוּחִים,

we trust,

וְעַל צִדְקוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים,

and on Your righteousness, we rely,

וְלִסְלִיחוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ מְקַוִּים,

and for Your pardon, we hope,

וְלִישׁוּעָתְךָ אָנוּ מְצַפִּים:

and for Your deliverance, we yearn.

אַתָּה הוּא מֶלֶךְ,

You are a King

אוֹהֵב צְדָקוֹת מִקֶּדֶם,

Who loves righteousness from of old,

מַעֲבִיר עֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ,

Who passes over the iniquities of His people,

וּמֵסִיר חַטֹּאת יְרֵאָיו:

and removes the sins of those who fear Him.

כּוֹרֵת בְּרִית לָרִאשׁוֹנִים,

You made a covenant with the Patriarchs,

וּמְקַיֵּם שְׁבוּעָה

and will keep [Your] oath

לָאַחֲרוֹנִים:

with their descendants.

אַתָּה הוּא, שֶׁיָּרַדְתָּ

You are He Who descended

בַּעֲנַן כְּבוֹדֶךָ עַל הַר סִינַי,

in the cloud of Your glory, on Mount Sinai,

וְהֶרְאֵיתָ דַּרְכֵי טוּבְךָ

and disclosed the ways of Your goodness

לְמֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ:

to Moses, Your servant.

וְאָרְחוֹת חֲסָדֶיךָ

The ways of Your kindliness,

גִּלִּיתָ לוֹ,

You revealed to him;

וְהוֹדַעְתּוֹ

and You made known to him

כִּי אַתָּה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן,

that You are Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד

Slow to anger, Abounding in kindness,

וּמַרְבֶּה לְהֵטִיב,

and full of beneficence,

וּמַנְהִיג אֶת־כָּל־הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ

guiding the entire world

בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים:

with the quality of mercy.

וְכֵן כָּתוּב:

And so it is written:

וַיֹּאמֶר

“And He said:

אֲנִי אַעֲבִיר

‘I will cause to pass

כָּל־טוּבִי עַל־פָּנֶיךָ

all My goodness before you,

וְקָרָאתִי בְשֵׁם יְהוָה

and I will proclaim the Name, Adonoy

לְפָנֶיךָ.

in your presence;

וְחַנֹּתִי

I will be gracious

אֶת אֲשֶׁר אָחֹן,

to whom I will be gracious,

וְרִחַמְתִּי

and I will be compassionate

אֶת־אֲשֶׁר אֲרַחֵם:

to whom I will be compassionate.’”

אֵל אֶֽרֶךְ־אַפַּֽיִם אַתָּה.

You are Almighty, Slow to Anger,

וּבַֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים נִקְרֵֽאתָ.

Lord of Mercy, You are called,

וְדֶֽרֶךְ תְּשׁוּבָה הוֹרֵֽיתָ:

and the way of repentance, You have taught us.

גְּדֻלַּת רַחֲמֶֽיךָ וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ.

The greatness of Your mercy and kindliness,

תִּזְכֺּר הַיּוֹם וּבְכָל־יוֹם

remember this day and every day

לְזֶֽרַע יְדִידֶֽיךָ:

for the descendants of Your loved ones.

תֵּֽפֶן אֵלֵֽינוּ בְּרַחֲמִים.

Turn to us with compassion

כִּי אַתָּה הוּא בַּֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים:

for You are the Lord of Mercy.

בְּתַחֲנוּן וּבִתְפִלָּה

With supplication and prayer

פָּנֶֽיךָ נְקַדֵּם.

we approach Your Presence,

כְּהוֹדַֽעְתָּ

as You made known

לֶעָנָיו מִקֶּֽדֶם:

to [Moses,] the modest one of old.

מֵחֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ שׁוּב.

From Your fierce anger turn,

כְּמוֹ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ כָּתוּב:

as it is written in Your Torah.

וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶֽיךָ

In the shadow of Your wings,

נֶחֱסֶה וְנִתְלוֹנָן.

may we be sheltered and lodged,

כְּיוֹם

as on the day [of which it is said:]

וַיֵֽרֶד יְהֺוָה בֶּעָנָן:

“When Adonoy descended in the cloud.”

תַּעֲבֺר עַל־פֶּֽשַׁע

Remove [our] transgression,

וְתִמְחֶה אָשָׁם.

and blot out [our] iniquity,

כְּיוֹם

as on the day [of which it is said:]

וַַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם:

“And He stood with him there.”

תַּאֲזִין שַׁוְעָתֵֽנוּ

Give ear to our cry

וְתַקְשִׁיב מֶֽנוּ מַאֲמַר.

and listen to our speech,

כְּיוֹם

as on the day [of which it is said:]

וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה,

“And He proclaimed the Name, Adonoy”

וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:

And there it is said:

קהל וחזן:

Congregation and Chazzan:

וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהֺוָה עַל פָּנָיו

“And Adonoy passed before him [Moses]

וַיִּקְרָא:

and proclaimed:

יְהֺוָה יְהֺוָה

Adonoy, Adonoy,

אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן

Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם

Slow to Anger,

וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד וֶאֱמֶת:

and Abundant in Kindness and Truth.

נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד

Keeper of kindness

לָאֲלָפִים

for thousands of generations,

נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע

Endurer of iniquity and transgression,

וְחַטָּאָה

and sin,

וְנַקֵּה:

And Acquitter of those who repent.”

וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֺנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ

“And pardon our iniquity and our sin,

וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:

and take us for Your inheritance.”

סְלַח־לָֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ כִּי־חָטָֽאנוּ.

Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned,

מְחַל־לָֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כִּי־פָשָֽׁעְנוּ:

forgive us our King, for we have transgressed.

כִּי־אַתָּה אֲדֺנָי

For You, my Master,

טוֹב וְסַלָּח

are good and forgiving,

וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד

and abounding in kindness

לְכָל־קוֹרְאֶֽיךָ:

to all who call upon You.

מֵאֵין כָּמוֹךָ יְהוָה,

There is none like You, Adonoy.

גָּדוֹל אַתָּה

You are great,

וְגָדוֹל שִׁמְךָ בִּגְבוּרָה:

and Your Name is great in its might.

נוֹדָע בִּיהוּדָה אֱלֹהִים

God is known in Judah,

בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל גָּדוֹל שְׁמוֹ:

in Israel, His Name is great.

עָזְרֵנוּ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ

Help us, Adonoy, our God,

כִּי־עָלֶיךָ נִשְׁעַנּוּ

for upon You, we depend,

וּבְשִׁמְךָ בָאנוּ:

and in Your Name, do we come.

כְּשִׁמְךָ אֱלֹהִים כֵּן תְּהִלָּתְךָ

As Your Name, God, so is Your praise

עַל־קַצְוֵי־אֶרֶץ

to the ends of the earth;

צֶדֶק מָלְאָה יְמִינֶךָ:

Your hand is full of righteousness.

מִגְדַּל עֹז שֵׁם יְהוָה,

A tower of strength is the Name, Adonoy,

בּוֹ יָרוּץ צַדִּיק וְנִשְׂגָּב:

to Him rush the righteous and strong.

כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים

As a father has compassion on his children

כֵּן תְּרַחֵם יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ:

so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy.

לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה,

Deliverance is Adonoy’s;

עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה:

upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ

Adonoy of Hosts is with us,

מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ, אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה:

a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah!

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת,

Adonoy of Hosts!

אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּֽטֵֽחַ בָּךְ:

fortunate is the man who trusts in You.

יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה,

Adonoy, deliver us!

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ:

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,

“Please pardon the sins of this nation

כְּגֹֽדֶל

in accordance with the greatness

חַסְדֶּֽךָ.

of Your lovingkindness;

וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָֽׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה.

and as You forgave this people

מִמִּצְרַֽיִם וְעַד הֵֽנָּה.

from when it left Egypt until now.”

וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:

And there it is said:

הקהל אומרים:

The Congregation says:

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה

“And Adonoy said,

סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:

I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”

הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמָע,

Incline Your ear, my God, and hear,

פְּקַח עֵינֶֽיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵֽינוּ,

open Your eyes and behold our desolate places,

וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶֽיהָ

and the city which is called by Your Name;

כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקֹתֵֽינוּ,

for it is not on account of our righteousness

אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ,

that we let fall our supplication before You,

כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים:

but because of Your great mercy.

אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָֽעָה, אֲדֹנָי סְלָֽחָה,

My Master, hear! My Master, pardon!

אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִֽׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה,

My Master, listen and take action,

אַל תְּאַחַר.

do not delay!

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי,

For Your sake, my God,

כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא

because Your Name is proclaimed

עַל עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּֽךָ:

over Your city and over Your people.