This prayer was composed by Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah (the Light of the Exile).

Remember the covenant of Abraham

and the binding of Isaac,

and return the captives

of the tents of Jacob

and deliver us for the sake of Your Name.

For our sins are great

our Temple was taken as a debt.

We betrayed Your abundant love

which caused a reversal [of that love].

Return with compassion

to the remnant of Israel

and save us

for the sake of Your Name.

The deeds of Your first righteous

remember,

[as well as] the strength of Your friendship.

Command the redemption

of Your servants.

Reveal Your hidden secret.

Return the captives

of the tents of Jacob

and save us

for the sake of Your Name.

We became tied as brothers

to frivolity and insipidness.

Our speech (quality of prayer)

has greatly sunk.

Exalted One!

Raise us up from our low state

and bring us into the light

from darkness.

Return with compassion

to the remnant of Israel

and save us

for the sake of Your Name.

[Pour] a tide of fire and flame [upon our enemies],

to destroy the torturer

and the haughty one.

From the oppressor [to be saved]

send us Your help.

Awaken!

to arouse Your love [for us].

Return the captives

of the tents of Jacob

and save us

for the sake of Your Name.

Mighty Redeemer, for Your sake redeem us,

see how helpless we are,

look, our pious men are gone,

and we have none to intercede for us.

Return the captives

of the tents of Jacob

and deliver us

for the sake of Your Name.

The covenant with the Patriarchs

the Matriarchs

and the [twelve] tribes,

Your oft-repeated mercy and kindness—

remember [now] O God

to those who are stricken and tortured,

and for Your sake [they are ready]

to be killed all the day.

Turn with compassion

to the remnant of Israel,

and deliver us for the sake of Your Name.

You Who avenges [innocent] blood,

judge our cause,

repay [punish] sevenfold

into the bosom of those who torment us;

we have been sold for naught,

[therefore] redeem us without [ransom] money,

raise up Your ruined, Holy Temple,

before our [very] eyes,

and return the captives

of the tents of Jacob

and deliver us for the sake of Your Name.

Remember to us the covenant of the ancestors,

as You promised,

“And I will remember for their sake,

the covenant with their ancestors,

whom I brought out

of the land of Egypt,

in the sight of the nations;

to be their God

I am Adonoy.”