Our God and God of our fathers!

The virgin daughter of Judah

is full of pain and sobbing,

she bewails herself

[and] spreads her hands [in prayer]

from the depths of her captivity.

From the narrowness [of distress]

I call out to You,

Answer me

with the breadth of Divine relief;

from out of fire and water

bring her into safety.

She lifts her eyes for help,

she looks to all sides;

she trembles [like a woman]

giving birth to her first child,

her birth pains

are compounded by her delicate nature.

She claps her hands,

and murmurs in her thoughts:

“Where now is my hope,

and [the fulfillment of] my hope

who will see?”

The beloved of her soul and her Dwelling,

her ornament and pride [the Holy Temple]

have been given into the hands

of those who revile her,

into the palms of those who afflict her.

They yell out amid their assemblies,

giving voice, they taunt her, saying:

“Where is the word of Adonoy?”

“Let it come now [and deliver them].”

From captivity to exile, driven and shattered

is Your nation that was once feared;

[this resulted] from Your fierce anger

and the terror of Your wrath.

With her broken spirit and bitter voice,

she cries out to You:

“Where is Your indignation and Your might?”

You have abandoned Your people,

the House of Israel,

in the land of their captivity;

they are tossed about in the enemies’ land

like a ship in the heart of the sea.

Babes ask their fathers:

“Where are the wonders of the shepherd?”¹

footnotes: ¹ Moses.

Where is He

Who brought them out of the [Reed] Sea?

Degenerates and non-entities

have trampled our inheritance [the Temple],

they have driven us far from our country

from the borders of our land;

we said: “We are cut off, our hope is lost.”

“Where are all Your wonders

of which our fathers told us?”

Remember Adonoy to the sons of Edom,

the destruction of Your Temple,

the shattering of my mighty ones

and the dismemberment

of the infants of Your congregation;

uncover Your mighty arm—demand from them

an account of the flock of Your pasture:

“Where is the flock that was given you?”

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.”

Adonoy! bring back our exiles

like springs in the desert.

Turn away from Your fierce anger

and let Your mind be changed

concerning the evil intended for Your people.

Return Adonoy—how long?

and change Your mind about Your servants.

Return to us, God of our deliverance,

and annul Your anger toward us.

Enter not into judgement with us,

for no living soul will be justified before You.

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.