Messengers of mercy, angels of the Most High!

beseech the Presence of the Almighty

with words of virtue [concerning Israel].

Perhaps, He will spare

this poor and needy people.

perhaps He will be compassionate.

Perhaps He will be compassionate

with the remnant of Joseph,¹⁶

footnotes: ¹⁶ See Amos 5:16.

who are lowly and disgraced, torn to pieces,

innocent captives, sold without compensation;

they cry out in prayer

seeking permission [to enter His Presence].

Perhaps [then] He will spare

this poor and needy people,

perhaps He will be compassionate.

Perhaps He will be compassionate

toward those who are afflicted in chains,

accustomed to beatings—enduring oppression,

the subject of head-shaking

among the nations;

a byword among peoples, of anger and shame.

Perhaps [then] He will spare

this poor and needy people,

perhaps He will be compassionate.

Perhaps He will be compassionate

and see the affliction of His people,

and listen to those who pray to Him;

they gather to offer silent prayer

amid their suffering,

their eyes look to Him, hoping for favor.

Perhaps [then] He will spare

this poor and needy people,

perhaps He will be compassionate.

Perhaps He will be compassionate

toward those who say “Please pardon us,”

who vigorously praise Him at all times,

who band together in times of trouble

to pour out supplications;

in the Presence of their God,

they pour out their weak hearts.

Perhaps [then] He will spare

this poor and needy people,

perhaps He will be compassionate.

Perhaps He will be compassionate

upon those who have been doubly smitten,

swallowed by lions [enemies of Israel],

even in the mouth of small lions

smitten [by God] and punished

for their conspicuous iniquities;¹⁷

footnotes: ¹⁷ See Lamentations 1:9—טוּמֽאָתָה בְּשׁוּלֶיהָ

yet, she has not forgotten

the Torah.¹⁸

footnotes: ¹⁸ See Rashi to Habakuk 3:4—חֶבְיוֹן עוּזוֹ.

Perhaps [then] He will spare

this poor and needy people,

perhaps He will be compassionate.

Perhaps He will be compassionate

upon those who hide their faces [in shame],

who listen to their degradation

and do not reply or argue;

to Him Who is eternal they hope,

and upon His deliverance they depend,

for His mercy is never absolutely withheld.

Perhaps [then] He will spare

this poor and needy people,

perhaps He will be compassionate.

Perhaps He will be compassionate

to strengthen one, oppressed in poverty,

release the captive from his land of captivity,

remove his pain and heal his sickness,

hear his cry

and hasten the time of redemption.

Perhaps [then] He will spare

this poor and needy people,

perhaps He will be compassionate.

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.”