לערב ראש השנה 9

כט. על פי א"ב. חתום אפרים בר יצחק:

אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ

Our God and God of our fathers!

אֵל־אֱמוּנָה עֶזְרָה הָבָה.

Trusted God, extend help

לְעַמְּךָ כֻּלָּם הֵטִיבָה.

and do goodness to Your entire nation

יַחַד לַמִּשְׁפָּט נִקְרָבָה:

[when] they come together to be judged.

בּוֹחֵן לִבּוֹת כֻּלָּם.

[He] Who knows their innermost thoughts

מוֹשֵׁל בִּגְבוּרָתוֹ עוֹלָם.

[and] rules the world with His might

יָבִיא בַּמִּשְׁפָּט עַל־כָּל־נֶעְלָם:

brings to judgment for everything hidden.

גָּבוֹהַּ בַּמִּשְׁפָּט הָאֵל.

God, Who is exalted through judgment¹I.e. by bringing the evil to justice, all perceive Him ruling the world.

נִקְדַּשׁ בְּצִדְקוֹתָיו

[and] sanctified through His righteousness,

כְּהַרְרֵי־אֵל

[powerful] as the mighty mountains

וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו עִם יִשְֹרָאֵל:

when He judges Israel.

דְּלֵה מֵעֹנֶשׁ נְשֹוּאֶיךָ.

Remove retribution from those You carry,²“Those You carry,” i.e. the nation of Israel.

בְּחֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת מְנַשְּׂאֶיךָ.

those who exalt You with “Grace and truth.”³I.e. those who recognize God’s grace and truth.

צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט

Righteousness and justice

מְכוֹן כִּסְאֶךָ:

are the foundations of Your Throne.

הַיְשַׁר לְפָנֶיךָ לֵב־עָקֹב.

Straighten before You, a crooked heart,

דִּינֶךָ הָהָר יִקֹּב.

Your judgment bores through the mountain⁴I.e. nothing can stand in the way of God’s judgment.—

מִשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב:

the justice of the God of Jacob.

וְיֹשֶׁר מִדּוֹתֶיךָ

The righteousness of Your virtues

נֶחֱמָדוּ.

are delightful,

יוֹשְׁבֵי־תֵבֵל צֶדֶק לָמָדוּ.

the world’s inhabitants learned justice

לְמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ עָמָדוּ:

as they stand to be judged by You.

זְקוּקָה צְרוּפָה חוֹתֶמֶת.

Your seal [of justice] is pure and clean,

בְּפֹעַל אָדָם נֶחְתֶּמֶת.

according to man’s acts [his fate] is sealed.

מִשְׁפְּטֵי יְהֹוָה אֱמֶת:

[Thus], the judgments of God are true.

חָרַד־כֹּל מִדִּין בּוֹדֵק.

All fear the Prosecutor

טוֹחֵן וְשׁוֹחֵק הָדֵק.

Who grinds and pulverizes finely.⁵I.e. who investigates to the minutest detail.

מִשְׁפְּטֵי יְהֹוָה אֱמֶת וָצֶדֶק:

The judgments of God are true and just.

טוֹב לְמָעוֹז כְּנָאֳמוֹ.

He is a good supporter as He promised,⁶I.e. He is good to us even when punishing us.

יוֹם־זֶה יִשְׁכַּח זַעְמוֹ.

on this day⁷I.e. on the judgment day. He will forget His wrath

לַעֲשֹוֹת מִשְׁפָּט עַמּוֹ:

when He judges His nation.

יְחַלּוּ בְצָקוּן דְּבֵקֶיךָ.

Those clinging to You pour [their hearts] out in prayer,

יְסַלְסְלוּ בְשִׁלּוּם חֻקֶּיךָ.

and praise You for Your perfect laws

עַל מִשְׁפְּטֵי צִדְקֶךָ:

[and] for Your righteous judgment.

כַּלֵּה פֶּשַׁע נִכְתָּם.

Erase the stain of sin

וְאַל־יֵבוֹשׁוּ

let them not be shamed,

מְיַחֲלֶיךָ בְּמַבָּטָם.

those who look to You in hope

וְעָשִֹיתָ מִשְׁפָּטָם:

and do justice for them.⁸“Do … them” i.e. avenge them.

לְשִׁמְךָ וּלְזִכְרְךָ הוּקַמְנוּ.

We were established to remember Your Name

לִבְרִית עוֹלָם הוּשַֹמְנוּ.

we were placed for an everlasting covenant.

וְאַל־תָּבֹא בְמִשְׁפָּט עִמָּנוּ:

[Thus] do not come into judgment with us.⁹I.e. do not judge us harshly.

מֶלֶךְ בִּקְדוֹשֵׁי עֶרֶץ.

The One Who rules the angels!

בְּרַחֲמָיו יִגְדֹּר פֶּרֶץ.

May He close the breach with compassion

בְּמִשְׁפָּט יַעֲמִיד אָרֶץ:

and through judgment establish the Land.¹⁰I.e. may He rebuild our land by first avenging us.

נְגִינוֹתַי כָּל־הַיּוֹם יְאַשְּׁרוּהוּ.

My songs praise Him the entire day

שַֹגִּיא־כֹחַ לֹא מְצָאנוּהוּ.

for we do not find Him burdening us

כִּי הַמִּשְׁפָּט לֵאלֹהִים הוּא:

[For it is God’s (way) to be just].

סַגֵּב חַסְדְּךָ לְעַמֶּךָ.

Strengthen Your nation with Your kindness,

לְשַׁוְעָתָם פְּתַח שָׁמֶיךָ.

to their cries open Your heavens

כְּמִשְׁפָּט לְאוֹהֲבֵי שְׁמֶךָ:

as befits those who love Your Name.

עָלֶיךָ נַשְׁלִיךְ כָּל־יְהָבִים.

We will throw all our burdens upon You.¹¹I.e.—we will trust in You to care for all our problems.

כַּף־צֶדֶק תַּכְרִיעַ בַּאֲהָבִים.

Tip the scales with love¹²I.e. out of Your love for us let our merits outweigh our discretions.

כִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ טוֹבִים:

for Your justice is good.

פָּנֶיךָ הָאֵר לִמְחִילָתִי.

Shine Your countenance to forgive me

בְּבִצְעִי

for my sin

אַל־תְּכַבֶּה גַחֲלָתִי.

do not extinguish my ember¹³Do not have me die.

כִּי לְמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ יִחָלְתִּי:

for to Your justice do I look forward.

צַדְּקֵנוּ כְּאַחַת חֲטִיבָה.

Find us righteous as one being,¹⁴Consider us as one with the rest of the Jewish nation.

חָשְֹכֵנוּ מִלַּהַט הַיּוֹם־הַבָּא.

keep us from the blaze of the coming day¹⁵“Coming day”—i.e. the day of Judgment.

מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ תְּהוֹם רַבָּה:

for Your judgment is unfathomable.

קָרֵב יֶשַׁע שְׁבָטֶיךָ.

Bring Your tribes closer to salvation,

אֲחוּזִים בְּחַבְלֵי שְׁפָטֶיךָ.

who are tied to the ropes of Your chastisement

וְיוֹשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ:

and the righteousness of Your judgment.

רֶנֶן מִלֵּב וּבָשָֹר וּנְשָׁמָה.

Song from the heart of flesh and soul

יַעֲלֶה לְךָ הַשָּׁמַיְמָה.

shall rise to You to the heavens,

מְקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּט שָׁמָּה:

the place of judgment is there.

שׁוֹפְטֵנוּ מְחוֹקְקֵנוּ בְּכַפֶּיךָ.

Our Judge, Who formed us with Your hands,

לַמֵּד דְּרָכֶיךָ מְצַפֶּיךָ.

teach Your ways to those who look to You

וְכָל מִשְׁפְּטֵי פִּיךָ:

as well as all the Laws that you commanded.

תַּשְׁפִּיעַ חַסְדְּךָ דַּיֵּנוּ.

Bestow Your abundant goodness,

תִּגְבֹּרֶת רַחֲמֶיךָ לְמַאֲוָיֵּינוּ.

Your powerful mercy according to our will.

כְּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ חַיֵּנוּ:

As is Your manner, grant us life.

אַפִּרְיוֹן לְעִי הַשָּׂדֶה.

The Temple [has become] stones of the field.

מַהֵר לְשַׁכְלֵל יְסוֹדָהּ.

Hurry to establish its foundation;

צִיּוֹן בְּמִשְׁפָּט תִּפָּדֶה:

Zion will be redeemed through justice.

מֵאוֹיְבַי אִנָּקְמָה

Avenge Me from my enemies

פִּזְּרוּנִי.

Who have scattered me.

גַּדַּע קַרְנוֹת

Lop off the horns

זֵרוּנִי.

of those who have scattered me

וּמִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ

and Your judgment [of my enemies]

יַעַזְרוּנִי:

will save me.

אֵל מֶֽלֶךְ.

Almighty! King!

יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים.

Who sits on the throne of mercy,

מִתְנַהֵג בַּחֲסִידוּת.

governs with kindness

מוֹחֵל עֲו‍ֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ.

forgives the iniquities of His people.

מַעֲבִיר רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן.

He removes their sins one by one,

מַרְבֶּה מְחִילָה לְחַטָּאִים

increasing forgiveness to sinners,

וּסְלִיחָה לְפוֹשְׁעִים.

and pardon to transgressors.

עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקוֹת

Acting righteously

עִם כָּל בָּשָׂר וָרֽוּחַ.

with all who are of flesh and spirit;

לֹא כְרָעָתָם

not according to their wickedness

תִּגְמוֹל:

does He repay them.

אֵל

Almighty!

הוֹרֵיתָ לָנוּ לוֹמַר

You instructed us to recite

שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the thirteen Divine attributes;

וּזְכָר לָֽנוּ הַיּוֹם

remember unto us this day

בְּרִית שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה.

the covenant of thirteen Divine attributes,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹדַֽעְתָּ

as You made them known

לֶעָנָו מִקֶּֽדֶם.

to the humble Moses of old,

כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב

as it is written,

וַיֵּרֶד יְהֹוָה בֶּֽעָנָן

“And Adonoy descended in the cloud,

וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם

and stood with him there,

וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה:

and proclaimed the Name, Adonoy.

קהל וחזן:

Congregation and Chazzan:

וַיַּֽעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו

And Adonoy passed before him [Moses],

וַיִּקְרָא:

and proclaimed:

יְהֹוָה יְהֹוָה

Adonoy, Adonoy,

אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן

Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם

Slow to Anger,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד וֶֽאֱמֶת:

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 לַעֲו‍ֹנֵֽנוּ 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 אֲדֹנָי

“For You, my Master,

טוֹב וְסַלָּח

are good and forgiving,

וְרַב חֶֽסֶד

and abounding in kindness

לְכָל קֹרְאֶֽיךָ:

to all who call upon You.”

אַל תָּבֹא בְּמִשְׁפָּט עִמָּנוּ

Do not enter into judgment with us

כִּי לֹא יִצְדַּק לְפָנֶֽיךָ כָּל חָי:

for no living soul will be justified before You.

אֱלֹהִים לָנוּ מַחֲסֶה וָעֹז,

God is our hope and strength,

עֶזְרָה בְצָרוֹת נִמְצָא מְאֹד׃

our help in trouble, He is most accessible.

אֱלֹהִים יְחָנֵּנוּ וִיבָרְכֵנוּ,

May God favor us and bless us,

יָאֵר פָּנָיו

may He cause His countenance to shine

אִתָּנוּ סֶלָה׃

among us forever.

אֱלֹהִים שֹׁפֵט

God judges,

זֶה יַשְׁפִּיל וְזֶה יָרִים׃

this one He humbles and this one He exalts.

אֱלֹהִים בְּשִׁמְךָ הוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ,

God, deliver us with Your Name,

וּבִגְבוּרָתְךָ תְדִינֵנוּ׃

and with Your might, judge us.

אֱלֹהִים שִׁמְעָה תְפִלָּתֵינוּ,

God, hear our prayer,

הַאֲזִינָה לְאִמְרֵי־פִינוּ׃

give ear to the words of our mouth.

יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים צְבָאוֹת

Adonoy, God of Hosts,

הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ

cause us to return to You,

הָאֵר פָּנֶיךָ

enlighten us with Your countenance

וְנִוָּשֵׁעָה׃

and we will be delivered.

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.

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:

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.