Our God and God of our fathers!

How can I open my mouth,

and how can I lift my eyes,

when in me there are no good deeds

and in my hand there is no merit?

I shout, I am like a drunkard,

and like one overcome with wine.

I am like a warrior

without weapons:

The humble heart trembles,

for gone is [the righteous one]

appointed to intercede on our behalf;

and who is left to open his mouth—

the fool, and one who lacks perception.

His transgression is concealed in him,

and his iniquity is imprisoned within him,

he is a sinner and full of rebelliousness,

a captive of the despicable [evil inclination].

Filled with distraction is this humiliated heart

of him who comes to entreat You,

the straight path he has distorted,

[and] he despises admonition,

[for] he has become twisted and crooked.

His knee is weak because of his guilt,

and the filth of his sin is his obstacle;

in his heart he thinks of iniquity,

and his deeds cause him to stumble.

Rebuttals and excuses to offer—

what can I find?

I have become repulsive and polluted

for I am filled with disgrace and derision.

The abundance of my tears has not endured,

its source has been interrupted;

[even] my assembly [for prayer]

is filled with iniquity and deceit,

and my fast days filled with strife.

Erase our transgression, forgive our iniquity,

and atone our guilt.

I cry out from an aching heart,

that is disgraced, shamed and humiliated:

“Quiet Your wrath, calm Your rage,

and annul Your anger;

be pleased with [our emmissary who seeks³]

footnotes: ³ A reference to the Chazzan.

to make us favored and loved [in Your eyes],

and confound [Satan] who digs pits for us.”

Remember the tribes of Israel!

Prepare yourselves with pure hearts,

with whole hearts, uphold [the Mitzvos],

and bring forth your supplication,

do homage in purity [of heart].

When Adonoy makes Himself accessible,

seek Him with added might,

He will not shame or detest

the cry of the humble and crushed [heart].

A day of deliverance and a time of favor

may I find in Your Presence;

fit, worthy and faultless,

may I be considered in Your eyes.

When I stand in prayer

to plead for mercy on Your children,

let us hear, “I have bestowed favor on you,”

“I have pardoned you”—

may this be told us from Your Dwelling.

Quickly, seek the Presence of the Almighty,

excise the hardness of your hearts,

remove the obstacle [the evil inclination],

clear the way and straighten the crooked,

abandon iniquity and confess,

and do not continue to harden [your hearts].

He who knows of his sin,

let him repent and show regret,

let him accept words of admonition,

and let him plead [for forgiveness].

Listen O Master to my supplication,

give ear to my prayer,

be pleased with my cry,

be appeased and conciliated

and accept my prayer;

I call You out of distress,

be near to me and come deliver me,

quickly, help me, my Master, my deliverer.

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.”

Do not enter into judgement with us

for no living soul will be justified before You.

When You appoint a time, O God

to judge us with uprightness.

Hear the voice of our supplications

when we cry out to You.

When we lift our hands

toward the Holy of Holies of Your Sanctuary.

Save our souls from death

and sustain us from hunger.

And You Adonoy, are our shield,

our glory and the uplifter of our heads.

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.