And He said: Pave the way, clear the path, lift up the stumbling-blocks from the path of My people. For thus spoke the High and Lofty One, Who dwells in eternity, Whose Name is the Holy One: Though I dwell in the high and holy place, I am with the lowly and those of humble spirit; to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the hearts of the contrite. For I will not contend forever, nor forever shall I be wroth. For man's spirit that enwraps him is from Me; and the souls, I have made. I was angered by the sin of his greed (unjust gain) and I struck him; I concealed Myself from him and was wroth; yet still he went rebelliously after his heart's desires. I have seen his ways and healed him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners. I will create a new speech (for him) and they shall say: “Peace, peace to the estranged (far off) and to the near, said Adonoy.” And I will heal him. But the wicked are like the stormy sea; it cannot rest and its waves cast up mire and mud. “There is no peace,” said my God, “for the wicked.” Cry out loud and do not refrain, raise your voice like the shofar and tell My people of their transgressions, and the House of Yaakov of their sins. Yet they seek Me daily and desire to know My ways; like a righteous nation who has not forsaken the law of their God; they ask Me about righteous laws, they desire to draw near to God. (They ask) Why do You not see when we fast; we afflict our souls and You do not notice? For on your fast day you seek business and oppress your labourers. You fast for strife and contention; to smite with a fist of wickedness; you do not fast this day to make your voices heard on high. Can this then be the fast that I have chosen—a day when man afflicts his soul, to bow down his head like a reed, to sit in sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you call a fast, an acceptable day to Adonoy? Behold, this is the fast that I have chosen—loosening the bonds of wickedness, undoing the straps of the yoke, sending the oppressed free and breaking every yoke (of tyranny). Break your bread with the hungry, and bring the impoverished into your home; clothe the naked when you see them and do not hide from your own flesh (relatives). Then will your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall come quickly; your righteousness will go before you and the Glory of Adonoy will gather you up. Then when you call out, Adonoy will answer; when you cry out, He shall say: “I am here.” If you remove from your midst the yokes, the stretching out of a finger and wrongful speech. If you reach out to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall shine forth in the darkness; and your deep darkness shall be as light as noon. Adonoy will always guide you and satisfy your soul from thirst and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden, and like a never failing spring of water. And from you shall they build up the old ruins; you shall raise up the foundations of generation after generation; and they shall call you: the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the path to dwell in. If you will keep back your foot because of Shabbos, and not pursue your business on My Holy Day, and if you will call Shabbos, a delight, holy to Adonoy and honoured, and honor it by refraining from doing your ways and pursuing your desires or speaking of them, Then shall you delight in Adonoy and I will set you on the high places of the earth and you shall enjoy the heritage of Yaakov, your father, for the mouth of Adonoy has spoken it.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

our God, King of the Universe,

Rock of all the worlds,

Righteous in all generations,

the Almighty, the Faithful One,

Who says and does,

Who speaks and fulfills,

for all His words are true and right.

Dependable are You, Adonoy, our God,

and dependable are Your words,

and not one of Your words

is ever retracted unfulfilled,

for You are the Almighty,

a King who is dependable and merciful.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

the Almighty

Who is dependable in all His words.

Have compassion on Tziyon

for it is the home of our life,

and the one whose soul is humiliated,¹⁸

footnotes: ¹⁸ This is the People of Yisrael, which is humiliated in exile. According to Avudraham and the siddur of Rav Amram Gaon, the text reads: וְלַעֲגוּמַת נֶפֶשׁ which would mean “the one whose soul is grieved.”

deliver speedily, in our days.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Who causes Tziyon to rejoice

with her children.

Cause us to rejoice, Adonoy, our God,

with Elijah the prophet, Your servant,

and with the kingdom of the House of Dovid,

Your anointed.

Speedily may he come

and cause our heart to exult.

Upon his throne, no stranger¹⁹ shall sit,

footnotes: ¹⁹ “Stranger” in this context means anyone not of the seed of Dovid.

and others will no longer inherit

his honor.

For by Your Holy Name, You swore to him,

that his light will never be extinguished.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Shield of Dovid.

For the Torah, for the Divine Service

for the Prophets,

(and for this Sabbath Day)

and for this Day of Atonement

which You gave us, Adonoy, our God,

(for holiness and for rest,)

for forgiveness, pardon and atonement,

for honor and for glory.

For all this, Adonoy, our God,

we thank You,

and bless You;

blessed be Your Name

by the mouth of all the living

continually forever.

and Your word is true and enduring forever.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

King Who forgives and pardons

our iniquities,

and the iniquities of His people,

the House of Yisrael;

and Who removes our trespasses

each year;

King over the whole earth,

Sanctifier

(of the Shabbos and)

of Yisrael and the Day of Atonement.