This prayer was composed by Rav Shimon ben Isaac [R’ Shimon the Great].

Our God and God of our fathers!

Send us Your light and Your truth, grant good fortune to those who believe in You, for You Adonoy are good and forgiving. Look on our afflicted souls, in Your goodness, take us to freedom, for the waters have reached our souls.

May our cries be heard, return our exiles to their dwellings, for we are strangers and sojourners. We knock at Your door constantly, we cling to You, to be joined, for we have been brought very low.

The insolent deride us in our plight, save us that we may thank You, our Rock, that You have delivered us from our tormentors. Your dispersed ones look to You for support, strengthen them in their fear of You, for this is the whole purpose of man.

The laws of the heathen peoples are vanity, but Your desired ones follow You longingly for You are gracious and merciful. Your Temple was turned into ruins, favor her with rebuilt walls, for Your kindness¹ to dwell among us. is better than life.

footnotes: ¹ In returning Your Shechinah

I am weary and in my affliction I pray: “May my oppressor be shamed and disgraced,” for Adonoy will do justice for the afflicted. The speech of my enemies lie heavy on me, they provoke me all the day, and thus my days are consumed in smoke.

May He pay them according to their deeds,² and thus teach His people a beneficial lesson, that He will not cast us off forever. May his Merciful One grant his desire, and remove his disgrace from him, for how good and how beautiful was he.³

footnotes: ² Israel’s. ³ When he [Israel] lived on its own land.

My cities have become ruins, strangers have entered my gates, because I bore the disgrace⁴ of my youth. “I will yet greatly rejoice in you,”⁵ when You will say this to Your redeemed,⁶ [they will say:] “For You have given me joy, Adonoy, with Your deeds.”

footnotes: ⁴ The sins. ⁵ Isaiah 61:10. ⁶ Israel.

Mighty One! Awesome One! Revered One! cause our redemption now, because for Your sake, we are continually slain. Clear the crooked way [of impediments] that we may proclaim Your glorious praise— that Adonoy has redeemed Jacob.

May our enemies perish by excisement, look down on us from the mighty heavens, for our days on earth are a shadow. Bring near the time of my redemption, let my enemies hear [Your] voice [proclaim]: “That the day of Adonoy is near.”⁷

footnotes: ⁷ Joel 1:15.

Exalted One, show Your arm, to Your beloved,⁸ show a pleasant countenance, for though Adonoy is exalted, He still regards the lowly.⁹ Hear the voice of my supplication, let my prayer ascend to Your dwelling, for Adonoy hears the cry of the needy.

footnotes: ⁸ Israel. ⁹ psalms 138:6.

Favor our prayer as a thanksgiving offering, say to Your people, “I will show you favor,” for the Torah shall go forth from Me. He will incline the scale [in our favor], He will garb and wrap Himself in strength, for He causes pain and brings healing.

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.”

Again, show us compassion, suppress our iniquities, and cast into the depths of the sea all our sins. Turn away fierce anger and let Your mind be changed concerning the evil intended for Your people. Adonoy, bring back our exiles like springs in the desert. Cause us to return to You, Adonoy, and we shall return; renew our days as of old.

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.