This prayer was composed by Shlomo ben Yehuda, HaBavli

Our God and God of our fathers!

In the day of dread, I call upon You.

Let me not be oppressed by the insolent—

those who forsake the precious Torah.

Render to them their just deserts;

sit [in judgement] to scrutinize [their deeds].

May the sentence of the wicked and corrupt

be carried out in full.

Those who intend to make us forget

Your holy and revered Name

and make us familiar with idolatrous names—

that are despicable and vulgar;

through their methods

the best of our people have been destroyed.

Spare the remnant

from being crushed as [olives] in an oilpress.

As they tear beasts of prey,

so they learned to devour man, as it is said:¹¹

footnotes: ¹¹ Ezekiel 19:3.

they cast lots for us

as if we were ownerless property

in the wilderness.

We were almost utterly consumed,

and nothing would have been left of us,

were it not for Your mercy, O Master,

Who rules with kindness

Who dares murmur at Your ways,

to argue against them?

who dares gird himself to dispute You?

We have turned away [from Your mitzvos]

and have been scattered like the wind.

The enemy’s bloody sword was drawn;

but with You is justice

and Your hand is uppermost.

Let the tyrant not say: “I have prevailed,”

nor let Judah’s enemies exult at my fall:

Proclaim—

for those who were sold for naught—

the year of release.

May the wicked seeking to extend their rule

be turned back and cut down.

Your bill of sale¹² preceded theirs

footnotes: ¹² You acquired Israel as Your exclusive possession.

and yet the creditors¹³ demand payment.

footnotes: ¹³ Israel’s enemies.

To postpone Your lien [is the intent]

of the many harsh rulers.

The border marks of Your boundary,¹⁴

footnotes: ¹⁴ The Mitzvos of the Torah are boundary marks dividing Israel from all other nations.

they seek to uproot.

The grain [Israel] which You sanctified,

has been devoured—

both grain ears and chaff.¹⁵

footnotes: ¹⁵ Both good and bad ones.

Let judgement for their evil come on them

and reveal their guilt.

According to their misdeeds

be harsh and bring devastation upon them.

For the portion of their cups,

rain upon them fiery coals;

return to them sevenfold.

Avenge Your covenant and destroy them.

To the city of Your beautiful Palace, lead us.

Make a path through the sea

for the redeemed congregation to pass.

In You is our hope,

and You, our Almighty Creator,

comfort us; may Your kindliness be upon us.

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.”