While Adonoy may be found,¹

footnotes: ¹ Especially during the Ten Days of Penitence.

I rise early to seek Him;

to entreat Him to atone [my] iniquities,

for I am red [with sin] as scarlet.

My heart is confused and benumbed,

and as one asleep, I drowse.

I have become almost like Sodom,

and to Gomorrah am I likened.

I resemble a faithless wife,

and a shameless adultress;

I have become like a polluted garment,

like a garment

stained with blood.

I lack a mediator,

and one that knows how to pray [for me].

Look Adonoy! and see,

for I have become repulsive.²

footnotes: ² Lamentations 1:11.

[Israel] the honored one has become repulsive

in the hands of those who besmirch her;

she has been sold for naught forever,

and there is none to redeem her.

That which was firm and upraised³ has sunken

footnotes: ³ The Holy Temple.

and the Ariel [the Altar] has been destroyed;

cast down from heaven to the earth,

is the glory of Israel.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ Lamentations 2:1.

Israel is a prey to robbers and vandals—

how long will this continue?

Numerous as locusts are my pursuers

and mighty are my destroyers;

when I take to heart,

my ruin, my destruction and my devastation,

my soul prefers [to die from] strangulation,

and death rather than to dwell in my bones.⁵

footnotes: ⁵ My soul prefers death rather than dwell within me.

Because my bones

are crushed and pierced

by those who provoke and blaspheme You,

I said,

“I cannot bear Your anger and Your wrath.”

May it be in Your heart

to redeem the life of Your beloved ones,

for Your Name is called

on Your city and on Your people.

Your people, scattered and dispersed

among every nation,

remember You in their adversity

and fear You in deed and thought.

Drown their deliberate sins,

and forgive and heal their negligence.

My Master, hear our voice,

let Your ears be attentive [to our prayer].

Let Your ears be attentive

to the outpouring of our pleading,

let the praise of our lips be acceptable

as the sweet savor of our sacrifices.

We seek You, our Shield,

and in You we place our trust,

for we are called by Your Name,

do not abandon us.

You have abandoned us, O Master,

these many years—why?

We have become as astonishment, an example,

a byword, a scorn,

a shame and disgrace.⁶

footnotes: ⁶ Among the nations of the world who persecute us.

Speedily fulfill the promise

that You made to the desolate [land]:

“I, Adonoy, build the ruins,

and plant that which was desolate.”⁷

footnotes: ⁷ Ezekiel 36:36.

The desolate land,

in Your great mercy, rebuild it,

and establish it firmly;

hear, O God, her supplication,

for the time to favor her is come.

Strengthen those who praise You,

shield them in the shadow of Your hand,

and may the redeemed ones of Adonoy, return

and come to Zion with singing.

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.”

Seek Adonoy and His might,

seek His Presence continually.

Seek Adonoy while He may be found

call upon Him while He is near.

Let the wicked one forsake his way,

and the man of deceit, his thoughts;

and let him return to Adonoy,

and He will have compassion for him,

and to our God,

for He will abundantly pardon.

Return Israel unto God,

for you have failed by your iniquity.

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.