This prayer was composed by Shlomo ben Yehuda, HaBavli

Our God and God of our fathers.

There is none that offers righteous prayer,

the best of men is like a briar-thorn;

to seek compassion on those who are crushed—

no one [worthy] can be found.

The blameless and pure man has vanished,

the pious man has disappeared

and the righteous has been trampled;

thus a generation impoverished in good deeds

is held to account for its iniquities,

for there is none to direct its ways.

Our sins have caused

[God’s] wrath to be kindled,

[even against the righteous] who offered, as members of Your household

to pray and intercede for us;

and thus, who is there, great or small,

that is able to offer confession and prayer

to the Holy One Who is ever awake?

I tremble and fear

to offer prayer on behalf of the congregation

to Him Who searches and probes [hearts;]

deficient in virtue and full of sin,

how can I find favor with my supplication?

You are good to those who call upon You

with all their soul,

You bear their burden and sustain them;

expand Your precious kindness upon me,

and give ear to my voice with Your love.

[Regard me] as one who is of worthy character

and completely proficient in prayer,

as one who is mature and fluent

and not as a boor,

consider my broken heart before You,

and let me not be ashamed;

for the sake of my relief,

remember Your mercy—

let it not be concealed.

Numerous are our needs,

but they cannot be expressed

because of our short-sightedness

and rebellious spirit;

but all is revealed to You

Who has formed us from clay,

[our] guide, shepherd, shelter and protector.

We are left like a single tree on a mountain

in our solitude,

our glory has turned to rubbish and refuse,

answer us and sustain us in our servitude,

add to Your counted ones [Israel]

by seeking out those who are lost from us.

Those who are inflicted with pain

by the rods of Your chastisement,

are scattered, dispersed

and pawned among the nations;

protect them in Your shelter

from strife and punishment,

for to behold Your glory

is their hope and desire.

[God,] Whose powerful voice hews flames of fire,

Who decrees both good and its opposite,

Your beloved ones knock [at Your door]

with a sorrowful voice;

accept their offer of prayer,

and dwell among them.

They persevere in fasting [in order]

to humble their hearts,

their multitude—from the wrath of judgement

conceal them in Your chamber;

they beseech You in quiet prayer,

lips whispering,

withhold not their desire.

Your Name O God

is glorified by Your desire to grant life,

we remain in good life because of You,

for the fountain of life flows from You;

look to us, and answer us,

and enlighten our eyes.

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 judgment with us,

for no living soul will be justified before You.

Let our prayer come before You

and be not concealed from our supplication.

Let come before You,

the groans of the prisoners,

according to Your great might

release those doomed to die.

My Master, hear our voice.

Let Your ears be attentive

to the voice of our supplication.

Let Your ears be attentive

and let Your eyes be open—

to the plight of Your people Israel.

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.