Our God and God of our fathers!

Only in You, Adonoy,

is the hope of Israel.

In later times and in early times

was Israel saved by Adonoy.

Why, then, is this day so delayed

for so long a time

while we await Your deliverance, Adonoy.

I resided and was delayed in exile

during the days that I was forsaken,

in the land of a detestable

and ugly people.

Why has there been

such a decline in my dignity,

while I was chastised with suffering.

Still, I say: “Hope to Adonoy,

be strong and He will give you courage

and hope to Adonoy.”

You were originally

the sword of our pride.¹

footnotes: ¹ Through You our enemies were destroyed.

When we hoped for You,

also, the way of Your judgments

we desired.²

footnotes: ² To see Your judgements inflicted upon the enemy.

Why is it so

that there is no person of merit to pray

for atonement of our guilt.

Regarding our suffering the nations say

that our bones have dried up

and our hope is lost.

We recall the previous exiles

but their duration was short.

The two first exiles were limited

but the current exile is still intense.

Why should we be regarded as animals,³

footnotes: ³ Let to the slaughter.

in such variance

to what is normal among other people.

The hope of Israel is Adonoy

Who is their Savior during times of travail.

To carry

and be relieved of the yoke of the nations

is what the children must do

because the Torah obliges them to do so.

They are driven from their homeland (Israel)

and their Beis Hamikdash is destroyed.

Why should the Father hide

their path (of redemption)

which is promised in their behalf,

that there is hope for ultimate salvation

by the word of God,

that the Children of Israel will return

to their boundaries.

My legs have virtually buckled

and they have fallen [from the path of God]

because I became jealous

of the mockers of Torah

who distort the proper ways.

Why should there not be destruction

of the supremacy

of those who band against God.

When this happens, those who trust in Adonoy

will obtain renewed strength

and grow wings like eagles.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ See Radak Isaiah 40,31.

I have been absolutely pursued

but the year of my redemption has not come.

We are handed over to those who afflict us

and pull out our hair

while we are not confident of redemption.

Why are our heroes pursued—

the few strong among us that remain.

I hope sincerely to Adonoy

that He will turn to me.

Your vines⁵ that were fenced it

footnotes: ⁵ Referring to the nation of Israel.

have been penetrated by the nations

and destroyed and plundered;

whereas the thorns

that were removed from the vineyard⁶

footnotes: ⁶ Referring to the nations that veered from God.

became arrogant and did not rot.

Why then have they become old and strong?

Why are they not ashamed, as promised?⁷—

footnotes: ⁷ By the prophets.

“The hope of Israel is Adonoy

and those who forsake You will be shamed.”⁸

footnotes: ⁸ There appears to be a juxtaposition in the verse. The last two lines refer to the promise of the prophet mentioned above.

Those who engage in falseness

glorified themselves by saying:

“What we desired we saw [in Israel’s state].”

They explained this by saying: “Our signs

that we used as indications were just.”⁹

footnotes: ⁹ Referring to the arrows which they shot that landed toward Jerusalem, serving as an indication that Jerusalem would be destroyed.

Why is their way successful

while we, who awaited Your kindness

became tormented.

Adonoy, be merciful to us

because we hope to You.

The resurrection of the Beis Hamikdash

in which there were thirteen breaches—

its time appears distant.

The breach extended to the roof.

Why should the wicked live

and not be destroyed

so that those who trust in Adonoy

will then inherit the land?

The nations plunder Your inheritance¹⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰ Referring to the land of Israel.

in order to drive us from Your portion.

“Turn back, turn back, Shulamith,”

they say in order to separate us from God.

However, we reply: “Why are you so arrogant

and say to each other

that we shall disassociate Israel from God?”

[On the contrary,] “Adonoy is good to those who trust Him

and to the soul that seeks Him.”

O God!

the answer to the ‘whys’ that we ask

we can answer with a full mouth.

We have sinned to Adonoy, our God,

and these predicaments have befallen us.

Your judgments are just

and You (even when inflicting pain)

are supreme and exalted.

Righteousness is Yours

and we are full of shame.

You warned us many times

and we said that we will not listen.

The voice that dripped from Your prophets

we rejected instead of listening.

Let Your power be aggrandized forever,

You Who can gather the stray people,

and in complete repentance,

bring us back to You.

[The nations will ask:] “Why

is your garment red?”

The time for this question is near.

Their blood will be sprinkled

on the garment that he wears.

We will be eternally grateful

for the day [of redemption]

which will come in its time.

[We then will say] “This is Adonoy

for Whom we hoped

and we will rejoice and be happy

in His deliverance.”

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.

Deliver us Adonoy,

for the pious man has ceased,

for the faithful have disappeared

from among the sons of man.

The pious man is gone from the land,

and the man of righteousness is no more.

Behold that there is no [righteous] man,

and we are bewildered,

for there is no one to pray [for us].

You are our King, O God,

command the deliverance of Jacob.

Israel waits for Adonoy[‘s deliverance]

from now and forever.

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.