Our God and God of our fathers!

How can I return to You through repentance

when those who worship other gods

don’t permit me to worship You?

They seek to separate me from You

and still I did not forsake Your precepts.

How was I able to go into exile

and go on every path and province

while the idol worshippers ruled over me

with their laws that endured

and their king reigned for a long time;

while I have not been called

to come to the king?

How were the rivers able to flow

from the dripping of my tears

while I was given over to evil doers?

They and their children

shoot me with arrows from their quivers

while I am a choice sheep taken to slaughter.

How is it that the end of days is concealed

and not known,

and my enemies who cut my glory

are saved from death,

considering themselves wise

like Haymon¹ and Darda

footnotes: ¹ See Rashi Kings I, 2:11, referring to Moses and the generation that left Egypt.

while I am foolish without wisdom.

How is it possible that the kingdom

of the Chosen People has been torn apart

while their kingdom has endured—

the kingdom of evildoers

and they live with confidence,

in joy and gladness

and I reside in exile?

The potion of poison—

how did I drink and swallow?

I cried and shed tears

because of the oppressive yoke of Ishmael

while they mock me [and insist]

that I heed and harken what they say

and I remain like a deaf person

and I do not hear.

How was my God able to smite me

while my previous wounds were still unhealed

and the cloak of my glory

was donned by Edom

as they eat their sweet delicacies—

milk and honey,

when I am like withered grass?

How did the nation of Kedar surround me

and Didan and Shva rule over me?

They proclaim as a prophet

a man who never prophecied

they provide strength for their kingdoms,

troops and armies

and I, where shall I go?

How did You administer such suffering

commensurate with my sins and foolishness?

In the teeth of lions and lionesses

was I consumed,

and they, young and old [were confident]

saying that they can overpower us.

As I was childless from previous suffering,

I became again childless from further suffering.

How did my stars become dark

and my zodiac change

as the nations abominated my scrolls?

They prevented my feet

from ascending to Jerusalem during festivals

and I virtually veered completely from God.

How did You heed my iniquities

and scrutinize my guilt

but against those who battle my soul

You did not defend me?

Even while they were in full strength

in inflicting pain and anguish upon me

and still I trusted in Your kindness

and my heart therefore rejoiced.

How did I sit alone

and become cast astray

and denigrated from my dignity?

I wandered amongst the nations

while they ruled and were successful

their kingdom endured

and I am childless and alone.

How have my mockers and denigraters

so embarrassed me.

Their power has not deserted them;

as they cried out

Aha! Aha! with words [of joy]

I was a disgrace with them.

How did I remain amongst them

in worry and pain?

From the waves of anguish they pour on me

and from their spring, do I draw;

while they rest and lay [secure]

as the raven and the wolf,

while I am oppressed and sore.

How is it that those who despise pureness,

dwell in Zion?

Who would believe such a thing,

who would imagine this to be God’s will?

While they are wealthy princes,

having been given high positions,

I remain impoverished and needy.

How do they live in my Palace [my Temple]

and dwell there in dwellings

from above to below²

footnotes: ² The Temple mount to the Courtyard.

and from below to the middle?³

footnotes: ³ From the Courtyard to the Temple.

While they have inherited a wealth of gold

and precious coins,

I am crippled while awaiting more blows.

How is that my thoughts are confused

while they remain in Your thoughts?

Remember us and be mindful of us

for deliverance from idol worshippers.

Let them be devoured and removed

from the Place of Your Dwelling,

and then through Your abundant kindness,

I will enter Your House.

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.”

God will remember His covenant

with Abraham, with Isaac

and with Jacob.

“I have sworn by Myself,” declares Adonoy,

“That because you performed

this deed

and did not withhold

your only son,

I will bless you greatly

and make your descendants numerous

as the stars of the sky

and as the sand on the seashore,

and your descendants will inherit

the gate of their enemies.

Through your children, will be blessed

all the nations of the world

because you heeded my voice.”

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.