This prayer was composed by Shlomo ben Yehuda, HaBavli

Our God, and God of our fathers!

Your ways are not like those of man,¹

footnotes: ¹ Who cannot always fulfill his will.

where, then, is Your vengeance²

footnotes: ² But since You can, why don’t You take revenge from our enemies.

and Your enduring counsel?

The daughter [Israel] whom You chose

to serve You in Your cherished House—

is now dominated by [strange] masters

and she is unable to cleave unto You.

She groans [saying]:

“I am betrothed to my beloved—

but the abhorred oppressor—

how he has trampled upon me.”

The sentence of death, she accepts on herself,

though she is exiled [from her land]

and coerced by the nations.

The mother³ is sent away—not divorced,

footnotes: ³ This refers to the Congregation of Israel.

the son, like a lost orphan—is sent off.

She, who was likened to a closed-in garden,⁴

footnotes: ⁴ Israel, who was protected by its Divine faith, has now been abandoned.

has become abandoned like wild grass,

and the foundation that was sealed

is now trodden and polluted.

Formerly Your wrath lasted but a moment,

but now the reverse is true.

The [priests who wore the] holy crowns,

are now cast into the streets.

She, who was beloved of God, was beautiful

as “Keren Hafuch” [Job’s daughter, Job 42:14]

is now forsaken, and regarded

as one [a harlot] with painted eyes.⁵

footnotes: ⁵ God considers our love to be insincere.

She, who was of pleasing appearance,

has become blackened by hard labor,

her sore festers without healing.

The day of vengeance—its path is yet closed;

the day of redemption—

the window is yet sealed.⁶

footnotes: ⁶ The time of redemption is concealed from our view.

Our endurance is weakened by the burden;⁷

footnotes: ⁷ Of exile.

crippled and lame are the survivors of death.

Without rest, they stray and wander,

they labor and strive, while others reap.

The horn [pride of Israel] was planted

in the rich, fertile land [of Israel].

Why has it become trampled

like thistles for the furnace?

The Guardian above, who never sleeps,

why does He let His plant be trampled

by the bulls of Bashan [Israel’s enemies].

What profits the vine when it is cut down?

What benefit is it to the spreading vine

when it is uprooted?

She [Israel], who is engraved on God’s palm,⁸

footnotes: ⁸ See Isaiah 49:16.

and upon His T’filin,

why has God’s love for her been withdrawn?

The task of the nations

requires minimal effort,⁹

footnotes: ⁹ They are required to observe only the seven Noachide laws.

but the payment of their wages increases.

She [Israel] yearns for Your attention,

but her waiting time is prolonged.

Each occurrence of trouble

is followed immediately by another.

The holy first offerings of the grain heaps¹⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰ Israel is referred to as God’s first fruits.

are scattered like chaff to the ends of the earth,

driven by the wind like leaves of the forest.

They flee in panic, as pursued by the sword.

Those ninety eight curses [described in the Torah, Deut. 28]

and those not described are fulfilled in us.

Have mercy, gather us

from these [four] corners.

Then will they say among the nations:

“Adonoy has done great things for them.”

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.”

Let us lift our hearts with our hands

to the Almighty in heaven.

Our help comes from Adonoy,

Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let our feet slip;

He will not slumber—our Guardian.

Behold, He does not slumber,

nor does He sleep, the Guardian of Israel.

Deliver, Adonoy, Your people,

the remnant of 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.