עֲקַבְיָא Akavya ben Mahalalel said: Reflect on three things and you will avoid transgression: Know where you came from, where you are going, and before whom you will have to give an account and reckoning. “Where you came from” – from a putrid drop. “Where you are going” – to a place of dust, worms and maggots. “And before whom you will have to give an account and reckoning” – before the Supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.

יֹשֵׁב בְּסֵֽתֶר He who lives in the shelter of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I say of the LORD, my Refuge and Stronghold, my God in whom I trust, that He will save you from the fowler’s snare and the deadly pestilence. With His pinions He will cover you, and beneath His wings you will find shelter; His faithfulness is an encircling shield. You need not fear terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day; not the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. Because you [have said:] “The LORD is my Refuge,” taking the Most High as your shelter, no harm will befall you, no plague will come near your tent, for He will command His angels about you, to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you in their hands, lest your foot stumble on a stone. You will tread on lions and vipers, you will trample on young lions and snakes. [God says] “Because he loves Me, I will rescue him; I will protect him, because he acknowledges My name. When he calls on Me, I will answer him, I will be with him in distress, I will deliver him and bring him honor. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”

THE ACCEPTANCE OF JUDGMENT

הַצּוּר The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A faithful God who does no wrong, righteous and fair is He.

The Rock, perfect in every deed: Who can say to Him, “What have You done?” He rules below and above. He brings death and gives life, bringing down to the grave and raising up again.

The Rock, perfect in every act: Who can say to Him, “Why do You so act?” You who speak and act: show us kindness we do not deserve, and in the merit of the one who was bound like a lamb, hear us and act.

Righteous in all His ways, the Rock who is perfect, slow to anger and full of compassion, please have pity and spare parents and children, for Yours, LORD, are forgiveness and compassion.

You are righteous, LORD, in bringing death and giving life. In Your hand is the safekeeping of all spirits. Far be it from You to erase our remembrance. May Your eyes be open to us in compassion, for Yours, LORD, are compassion and forgiveness.

If one lives for a year or a thousand years, what does it profit him? He shall be as if he had never been. Blessed is the true Judge who brings death and gives life.

Blessed is He for His judgment is true, and in His sight He surveys all. He repays man in accord with his account and just desert, and all must render acknowledgment to His name.

We know, LORD, that Your judgment is just. You are just when You speak and fair when You judge. It is not for us to criticize Your manner of judgment. You are righteous, LORD, and Your judgments are fair.

True Judge, Judge of righteousness and truth: Blessed is the true Judge for all His judgments are righteous and true.

In Your hand is the soul of every living thing. Your right hand and power are full of righteousness. Have compassion on the remnant of the flock of those who serve You, and say to the angel [of death], “Stay your hand.”

Great in counsel and mighty in deed, Your eyes are open to all the ways of men, giving each according to his ways and the fruit of his deeds:

to proclaim that the LORD is upright; He is my Rock, in whom there is no wrong.

The LORD has given and the LORD has taken away: blessed be the name of the LORD.

He is compassionate; He forgives iniquity and does not destroy. Repeatedly He suppresses His anger, not rousing His full wrath.

Mourner: Magnified and sanctified may His great name be, in the world that will in future be renewed, reviving the dead and raising them up to eternal life. He will rebuild the city of Jerusalem and in it reestablish His Temple. He will remove alien worship from the earth and restore to its place the worship of Heaven. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, will reign in His sovereignty and splendor. May it be in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of all the house of Israel, swiftly and soon – and say: Amen.

All: May His great name be blessed for ever and all time.

Mourner: Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, raised and honored, uplifted and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, beyond any blessing, song, praise and consolation uttered in the world – and say: Amen.

May there be great peace from heaven, and life for us and all Israel – and say: Amen.

May He who makes peace in His high places, make peace for us and all Israel – and say: Amen.

May the Almighty comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

May you have no further grief.

May they of the city grow like the grass of the earth.

Remember that we are dust.

He will destroy death for ever, and the LORD God will wipe away the tears from all faces and remove the reproach of His people from the whole earth, for the LORD has spoken.