The following prayer was composed by Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (Rashi).

Even before the clouds were stretched above,

and the soil was joined together on earth,¹

footnotes: ¹ Before God created heaven and earth.

in Your Presence

seven things were [already] gathered:

the Torah; the Divine Throne;

and [Repentance] the remedy

for rebellious children.

The beauty of Paradise; and the flames of Hell;

and a Place of atonement [the Altar]

by virtue of the offerings [brought thereon];

and the glorious name of the Moshiach

which has been desecrated through our sins.

All these were created two thousand years

before the creation of the inhabited earth.

They are arranged above the firmament,

appearing with sparkling lustre,

firmly rooted

before Him Who dwells over the Cherubim.

His throne was placed in the firmament,

standing firmly—

the seat of the King

Whose awe is upon all that surround Him.

From His right hand [He gave us the Torah]

a fiery law engraved in writing,

which was set on His knees

with loving caress.

Situated on the south, was the Garden of Eden,

on the north

was the blazing hell.

Facing east was Jerusalem

built with hewn stones,

concealing within it

the Almighty’s Sanctuary on earth;

set in its center was the Altar,

that atoned the guilty,

it lay

on the hewn, foundation stone.²

footnotes: ² From which God shaped the world.

The name of Yinon [Moshiach]

was engraved on it,

also the ineffable four-letter Name

was etched in letters.

There in the center

before Him Who blesses His people with rain

repentance is joined [with the other six objects],

it is the remedy for the sick and grieved.³

footnotes: ³ Because of their sins and transgressions.

It is ready to cleanse the filth,

and to provide clean garments,

and to pour good [fragrant] oil

on the heads of the penitent.

Therefore, we come before You,

young and old, [pleading with You]

to cleanse us from the stench [of sin],

and cast away the record of our iniquity.

With prayer, they approach You

Your rebellious children;

they seek You every day

with words of prayer.

Let our words be considered

as the burning of sacrificial blood and fat,

and accept the murmuring of our lips

as the sacrificial pieces of bullocks and lambs.

Cause our sins to sink into the earth.

there where water drips.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ Causing the earth to be soft and absorbent.

Bring us near to You,

under the wings of Your abundant mercy.

For in Your abundant mercy

we trust,

and on Your righteousness, we rely,

and for Your pardon, we hope,

and for Your deliverance, we yearn.

You are a King

Who loves righteousness from of old,

Who passes over the iniquities of His people,

and removes the sins of those who fear Him.

You made a covenant with the Patriarchs,

and will keep [Your] oath

with their descendants.

You are He Who descended

in the cloud of Your glory, on Mount Sinai,

and disclosed the ways of Your goodness

to Moses, Your servant.

The ways of Your kindliness,

You revealed to him;

and You made known to him

that You are Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,

Slow to anger, Abounding in kindness,

and full of beneficence,

guiding the entire world

with the quality of mercy.

And so it is written:

“And He said:

‘I will cause to pass

all My goodness before you,

and I will proclaim the Name, Adonoy

in your presence;

I will be gracious

to whom I will be gracious,

and I will be compassionate

to whom I will be compassionate.’”

You are Almighty, Slow to Anger,

Lord of Mercy, You are called,

and the way of repentance, You have taught us.

The greatness of Your mercy and kindliness,

remember this day and every day

for the descendants of Your loved ones.

Turn to us with compassion

for You are the Lord of Mercy.

With supplication and prayer

we approach Your Presence,

as You made known

to [Moses,] the modest one of old.

From Your fierce anger turn,

as it is written in Your Torah.

In the shadow of Your wings,

may we be sheltered and lodged,

as on the day [of which it is said:]

“When Adonoy descended in the cloud.”

Remove [our] transgression,

and blot out [our] iniquity,

as on the day [of which it is said:]

“And He stood with him there.”

Give ear to our cry

and listen to our speech,

as on the day [of which it is said:]

“And He proclaimed the Name, Adonoy”

And there it is said:

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.

Seek Adonoy while He may be found,

call upon Him while He is near.

“Return to Me, and I will return to you,”

says Adonoy of hosts.

He who knows shall return,

and God will relent

and turn from His fierce anger,

and not destroy

He who knows shall return and repent,

and leave a blessing after him.

Rend your hearts, not [merely] your clothes,

and return to Adonoy, your God.

For He is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abundant in kindness,

and relenting of evil.

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.

The Chazzan repeats after the congregation:

“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:

The Congregation says:

“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.