This prayer was composed by Rabbi Elyah ben Shemayah.

Master, when You judge man who is a worm, remember in Your anger to be gracious and compassionate with us, when You sit in judgment to rebuke the guilty, clear and justify the erring and simple.

Grant kindness and goodness to the guilty, do not press judgment to its limits. [When] those who are poor in good deeds and destitute in conduct, call upon You, let them find You.

We stand before You with great guilt, we are ashamed to mouth a reply [excuse]; can man be justified before God? In the Presence of His Maker, can man be found pure [innocent]?

Maliciousness lurks within him, deceit is hidden within him, he is full of iniquity and great transgression, account and reckoning before the Supreme King of Kings, he will have to give at his end.

His sins are engraven by his own hand, his wickedness will testify against him, the beams of his house will reveal and declare his deeds, the stone from the wall will scream and call out.¹

footnotes: ¹ See Mesechet Taanis 11a; Chagigah 16a.

The judged will hide his face in shame, he will be considered as naught when he stands before Your Presence; we beseech You, be pleased with the work of our hands, behold our broken hearts, and preserve us from destruction.

Let Your servants find favor this day, declare them guiltless, they desire Your nearness as of old; like snow and wool whiten the sins of the rose [Israel], save them from all evil in this year.

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.

Congregation and Chazzan:

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.”

Adonoy, hear our voice in the morning, morning, we pray to You and hope. Draw near to our soul and redeem it, redeem us for Your Name’s sake. Show us Your kindness, Adonoy, and grant us Your deliverance.

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:

“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.