This prayer was composed by Rabbi Joseph ben Isaac of Orleans (1150).

Our God and God of our fathers!

Master! when You appoint a time

to judge us rightly with Your might,

I stand trembling

to see Your Presence, to exalt You,

for I do not depend on my deeds,

but only on Your mercy.

Adonoy! Do it for the sake of Your Name.

The faithful ones have been cut off—

the mighty, with power to intercede,

[gone] also are those who made fences

and stood in the breach⁴

footnotes: ⁴ Defending the integrity of Yiddishkeit.

who forcefully brought their petition

before Him Who dwells in the high heavens.

The pious man has perished from the earth.

Behold, I am unworthy,

and what can I answer with my mouth?

Behold, I am young [insignificant]

without good deeds in my hand;

how, then, can I hope

when I am so full of fault?

Let the words of my mouth be acceptable.

I tremble and I am afraid

to express my wishes;

I fear my wickedness

and my rebellious disobedience;

Gracious One, have mercy on me

as I confess my sins and forsake them.

Hear the voice of my supplication,

when I cry out to You.

I have erred

but behold I repent and confess

[in order] to do Your will;

You Who are pure of eyes,

consider me as perfect in Your Presence;

God, deal with me

more leniently than to the letter of Your law.

And let me know You

[so] that I might find favor in Your eyes.

May Your power be magnified

and be adorned with my prayer,

as with the prayer of a [wise] old man,

who is fluent in prayer

and of blameless character.

My heart is crushed, humbled and grieved.

Look from the heavens and behold.

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.”