This prayer was composed by Rabbi Solomon Ibn Gabirol (1021–1056).

Our God and God of our fathers!

We beseech You, arouse Your old love,

with which You loved [Israel],

the uncountable congregation,

with every term of love, brotherhood

and friendship, You designated them;

for the sake of my brethren and companions,

let me speak, I beseech You.

When You set foot on Mount [Sinai]

to delight us with Your ancient treasure,⁶

footnotes: ⁶ The Torah which existed even before Creation.

You likened us to a kingdom of priests

and a holy nation, [calling us] “My son”;

and she [Israel] then said:

“He is my brother, my King, and my Master.”

You caused them [Israel] to inherit

a delightful heritage, the sweet portion;⁷

footnotes: ⁷ The Land of Israel.

Your glory [Shechinah] You caused to frequent

between the images of the Cherubim;

and now they [Israel] have been driven away

by strangers and evil doers.

In a land that is not theirs,

Your brethren now sojourn.

Remember, do not forget,

be not silent and do not rest, Almighty,

for Edom and Ishmael wanted to cut me off,

Gracious One, You know

of all these afflictions,

so speak Your brethren, Israel.

Plunderers beset me and emptied me,

to exchange the clean for the unclean,⁸

footnotes: ⁸ To renounce Judaism.

oppressors tried to force me,

behold, every day

how Your servants are beaten and whipped;

the voice of Your brother’s blood cries out.

They have dug a pit to trap me;

my soul faints and yearns

to seek Your help,

knock at my door and be my deliverance,

[and say] “I seek my brothers.”

From the Day of Rosh Hashana⁹

footnotes: ⁹ See Metsudah T’hillim page 165 note 4.

when You sit on Your glorious throne

and look down to examine simultaneously

the hearts of those who rebel against You

and the hearts of those who serve You,

exact with force

the debt from all who rebel against You;

but whatever Your brother owes You,

let Your hand release.

When the Books [of Life and Death] are read

for the creatures of Your world,

decreeing life or the opposite [of life]

to the rich and the poor;

Most High grant favor and kindness

in Your Sanctuary [of judgement].

Be surety for Your servant for good,

so that Your brother may live with You.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

and set me on high,

cause those who provoke You to perish

in wretchedness and in poverty;

but when You apportion the sustenance

giving each his yearly provision,

do not shut Your hand

from Your needy brother.

I rise before dawn

and cry to You my Creator.

Forward Your kindness

and forgive my transgression and treachery.

Let Your mercy be extended to me

as one who comforts me in my mourning.

O that You were like a brother to me.

Consider the supplication of Your poor ones

and [hear their] cry,

satiated with troubles are their souls and spirit;

cast into the depths of the sea

all their sins;

we beseech You, forgive now,

the transgression of Your brothers,

and their sins.

I rejoice at the word of Your promise,

You drew our hearts [to You]

through Your messengers [the prophets];

when will You reveal Your mighty arm?

Go now and see

to the peace [welfare] of Your brothers.

You were always the hope of Israel

and the sword of their pride,¹⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰ Israel took pride that God fought their battles.

living God, lift up their stature now,

strengthen their arm and dwell among them;

and Your brothers, remember them for peace

and their families too.

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?

Our God, we are ashamed and embarrassed

to lift up our faces to You, our God,

for great is our desertion,

to You we have sinned.

We have sinned together with our fathers,

we have been malicious and have done evil.

The sins of our youth, and our transgressions,

do not recall.

According to Your kindness, remember us,

for the sake of Your goodness, 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.