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

Our God and god of our fathers!

The needs of Your people are numerous,

but [since] their knowledge is limited—

their wants and desires

they are unable to recount;

please [therefore] regard our thoughts

even before we call.

The Almighty, Great, Powerful and Awesome.

Utterly extinct are they

that knew how to invoke [You],

with the order of prayers

to express them with eloquence;

we are left bare and evil has increased,

therefore we have not attained deliverance.

We have not the arrogance

to approach You with supplication,

[for] we have transgressed, rebelled,

and perverted our ways;

Your charitable benevolence is all we ask

as we set forth Your praise,

we who stand in the House of God, nightly.

Holy One, behold!

how the capable advocate is extinct,

accept my words [of prayer]

as if it were a generous offering;

let my praise today

be fastened to Your crown,

Almighty, girded with might.

Regard my plea

and may my prayer be pleasant [before You],

hear my prayer as if it were perfect,

decree for us a good life,

and make good for us

the inscription and seal.

You suspend the earth on nothingness.

Stretch out Your hand

and accept my repentance as I stand,⁵

footnotes: ⁵ Before You.

please pardon and forgive my evil deeds.

Please turn and occupy Yourself

with the welfare of those who seek You,

my friend and my support;

for You, Adonoy, are a shield about me.

Do not despise my words of praise,

I have exalted Your majesty

according to my limited wisdom;

fulfill for good my desire and my request

God, my Master, is my strength.

Let my words be pleasant [before You]

and be receptive to my prayer,

add to my account [of merit]

every word [of praise and prayer],

Holy One, regard my standing [in prayer]

as a meal-offering mixed with oil.

Give ear, God of Jacob, forever.

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.

Give ear, Adonoy, to our prayer

listen to the voice of our supplication.

What can we say before You, Adonoy, our God

what can we speak

and how can we justify ourselves?

We have sinned, as have our fathers,

we have caused others to sin,

and we have caused others to do evil.

The sins and transgressions of our youth,

do not recall.

According to Your kindness

should You remember us,

for the sake of Adonoy.

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.