Our God and God of our fathers!

The pure-handed One will increase His force,

His power will grow and wax.

Were it not in Scripture

one could not say it:

The proud One wrapped Himself like a chazan

and declared the thirteen attributes.

He caused the words of His glory to pass

and showed Moshe the tied knot [of His T’filin].

He prepared him and told him,

“So long as My sons sin,

let them perform this order before Me—

it is My attribute to forgive—

I am Adonoy, Adonoy,

gracious before you sin

and gracious after you sin and repent.

These are My ways and methods.”

Good and forgiving, Master of kindliness,

Who tips¹ the scale toward kindliness,

footnotes: ¹ The scales of justice are seen as two pans, one of strict justice and one of kindliness.

again have mercy,

Withholder, Bearer, and Favorer.

It is Your policy

to eliminate sins one by one;²

footnotes: ² The first several sins are eliminated.

to forgive and pardon,

increasing Your mercy and kindliness.

Who like You teaches that penitence heals,

kindly One and master healer;

matching the size of the wound

is Your ready bandange,

though he has little money prepared—³

footnotes: ³ The sinner is described as a sick patient with few merits.

the patient coming to you.

The balance grant us free,

Merciful, dependable One.

Your cure [the Torah]

is the wonderful elixir of life

for the dark one;⁴).

footnotes: ⁴ The Jewish People (Song of Songs

the ingredients You blend are perfect

as is the lotion on the bandage.

Open swiftly, with Your hand,

the medicine kit

to provide balm

for the wounds of the lovesick one [Israel].

When a laborer works for an employer,

in good faith, [though the employer]

expects to pay his wage,

that is not praiseworthy.

If he does damage or works lazily,

the master is praised if he’s generous.

Adonoy, our God,

is merciful and forgiving

though we rebelled against Him.

Your veracious attributes

are supreme, most proper

as seen

from Your supplying food to the rebellious.

The remnant of Joseph⁵

footnotes: ⁵ Jewry is metaphorically called Joseph.

hopes to find forgiveness from sin.

Grant good

like Joseph to his brothers,

forever to relate Your righteousness.

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.”

Then will You desire

the offerings of the righteous,

the burnt-offering—burnt meal-offering;

then upon Your altar will be brought up

[offerings of] bullocks.

You will grant truth to Jacob

kindliness to Abraham,

as You have sworn to our fathers,

from the days of old.

And the kindness of Adonoy

is forever and ever

upon those who fear Him

and His righteousness

upon children’s children.

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.