א. פתיחה. מיוסד על פי א"ב. חתום בנימין.
This prayer was composed by Benjamin ben Zarach
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ
Our God, and God of our fathers!
אֵיךְ נִפְתַּח פֶּה לְפָנֶיךָ, How can we open our mouths before You,
דַּר מְתוּחִים. O’ One Who dwells in the heavens;
בְּאֵלּוּ פָנִים in what manner
נִשְׁפֹּךְ שִׂיחִים: can we pour out our words of prayer?
גָּעַלְנוּ We have rejected
נְתִיבוֹתֶיךָ הַיְּשָׁרִים וְהַנְּכֹחִים. Your upright and honest ways,
דָּבַקְנוּ בְתוֹעֵבוֹת [instead] we cling to abominations,
וּבְמַעֲשִׂים זְנוּחִים:
and acts of corruption.
הָלַכְנוּ We have adhered
אַחֲרַי מַשְּׂאוֹת שָׁוְא וּמַדֻּחִים. to false and misleading concepts,
וְהִקְשִׁינוּ עֹרֶף וְהֵעַזְנוּ מְצָחִים: we have been stubborn and brazen;
זָעַמְתָּ בְּשֶׁלָּנוּ, You were angered at us,
בֵּית מִשְׁכְּנוֹת מִבְטָחִים. [the Temple,] our secure abode,
חָרַב You destroyed
וּפַס רֵיחַ נִיחֹחִים:
and the pleasing aroma of sacrifices ceased.
טֹרָדוּ וְטֻלְטָלוּ Banished and uprooted
כֹּהֲנִים מְשׁוּחִים. are the priests, the anointed ones,
יוֹדְעֵי עֵרֶךְ עוֹלוֹת who knew how to arrange burnt-offerings
וּזְבָחִים: and other sacrifices [on the Altar];
כַּמָּה יִסַּרְתָּנוּ You warned us many times
עַל־יְדֵי צִירִים וּשְׁלוּחִים. through the prophets, Your messengers;
לֹא הִקְשַׁבְנוּ לִשְׁמֹעַ we did not take heed or listen
לְמוֹכִיחִים:
to those who admonished us.
מֵאָז וְעַד עַתָּה From then and even till now
אֲנַחְנוּ נִדָּחִים. we have been scattered [among the nations,]
נֶהֱרָגִים we have been killed,
וְנִשְׁחָטִים וְנִטְבָּחִים: slaughtered and butchered.
שֹׂרַדְנוּ מְתֵי מְעַט We are a bare remnant [among the nations]
בֵּין קוֹצִים כְּסוּחִים. who tear at us like painful thorns;
עֵינֵינוּ כָלוֹת our eyes fail with disappointment
בְּלִי מְצֹא רְוָחִים:
for we have found no relief.
פּוֹרְכֵי עַמְּךָ Those who enslave Your people,
אֲשֶׁר לַבֵּל שׁוֹחֲחִים. who bow down to false gods—
צֶפֶר וָעֶרֶב לָמָּה מַצְלִיחִים: why do they succeed morning till night?
קָמִים לְמוּלָךָ נְאָצוֹת שׂוֹחֲחִים. They rise against You saying with scorn:
רְצוּצִים, “Shattered ones [Israel,]
בַּמָּה אַתֶּם בּוֹטְחִים:
in whom do you trust?”
שׁוֹכֵן עַד וְקָדוֹשׁ, You Who live eternally, holy One!
צְפֵה בְּעֶלְבּוֹן אֲנוּחִים. See the humiliation of those who groan,
תְּמוּכִים עָלֶיךָ וּבְךָ מוּתְאָחִים: they rely on You, and to You they cleave.
בְּנוֹרָאוֹת יְמִינְךָ With the awesome might of Your right hand,
נִוָּשֵׁעַה לִנְצָחִים. deliver them for eternity—
כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים for in Your abundant mercy,
אָנוּ בְטוּחִים:
we trust.
חיבר רב סעדיה גאון
This prayer was composed by Rav Sadyah Gaon 892–942
כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים For in Your abundant mercy
אָנוּ בְטוּחִים, we trust,
וְעַל צִדְקוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ נִשְׁעָנִים, and on Your righteousness, we rely,
וְלִסְלִיחוֹתֶיךָ אָנוּ מְקַוִּים, and for Your pardon, we hope,
וְלִישׁוּעָתְךָ אָנוּ מְצַפִּים: and for Your deliverance, we yearn.
אַתָּה הוּא מֶלֶךְ, You are a King
אוֹהֵב צְדָקוֹת מִקֶּדֶם, Who loves righteousness from of old,
מַעֲבִיר עֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ, Who passes over the iniquities of His people,
וּמֵסִיר חַטֹּאת יְרֵאָיו: and removes the sins of those who fear Him.
כּוֹרֵת בְּרִית לָרִאשׁוֹנִים, You made a covenant with the Patriarchs,
וּמְקַיֵּם שְׁבוּעָה and will keep [Your] oath
לָאַחֲרוֹנִים: with their descendants.
אַתָּה הוּא, שֶׁיָּרַדְתָּ You are He Who descended
בַּעֲנַן כְּבוֹדֶךָ עַל הַר סִינַי, in the cloud of Your glory, on Mount Sinai,
וְהֶרְאֵיתָ דַּרְכֵי טוּבְךָ and disclosed the ways of Your goodness
לְמֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ: to Moses, Your servant.
וְאָרְחוֹת חֲסָדֶיךָ The ways of Your kindliness,
גִּלִּיתָ לוֹ, You revealed to him;
וְהוֹדַעְתּוֹ and You made known to him
כִּי אַתָּה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן, that You are Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,
אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד Slow to anger, Abounding in kindness,
וּמַרְבֶּה לְהֵטִיב, and full of beneficence,
וּמַנְהִיג אֶת־כָּל־הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ guiding the entire world
בְּמִדַּת הָרַחֲמִים: with the quality of mercy.
וְכֵן כָּתוּב: And so it is written:
וַיֹּאמֶר “And He said:
אֲנִי אַעֲבִיר ‘I will cause to pass
כָּל־טוּבִי עַל־פָּנֶיךָ all My goodness before you,
וְקָרָאתִי בְשֵׁם יְהוָה and I will proclaim the Name, Adonoy
לְפָנֶיךָ. in your presence;
וְחַנֹּתִי I will be gracious
אֶת אֲשֶׁר אָחֹן, to whom I will be gracious,
וְרִחַמְתִּי and I will be compassionate
אֶת־אֲשֶׁר אֲרַחֵם:
to whom I will be compassionate.’”
אֵל אֶֽרֶךְ־אַפַּֽיִם אַתָּה. You are Almighty, Slow to Anger,
וּבַֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים נִקְרֵֽאתָ. Lord of Mercy, You are called,
וְדֶֽרֶךְ תְּשׁוּבָה הוֹרֵֽיתָ: and the way of repentance, You have taught us.
גְּדֻלַּת רַחֲמֶֽיךָ וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ. The greatness of Your mercy and kindliness,
תִּזְכֺּר הַיּוֹם וּבְכָל־יוֹם remember this day and every day
לְזֶֽרַע יְדִידֶֽיךָ: for the descendants of Your loved ones.
תֵּֽפֶן אֵלֵֽינוּ בְּרַחֲמִים. Turn to us with compassion
כִּי אַתָּה הוּא בַּֽעַל הָרַחֲמִים: for You are the Lord of Mercy.
בְּתַחֲנוּן וּבִתְפִלָּה With supplication and prayer
פָּנֶֽיךָ נְקַדֵּם. we approach Your Presence,
כְּהוֹדַֽעְתָּ as You made known
לֶעָנָיו מִקֶּֽדֶם: to [Moses,] the modest one of old.
מֵחֲרוֹן אַפְּךָ שׁוּב. From Your fierce anger turn,
כְּמוֹ בְּתוֹרָתְךָ כָּתוּב: as it is written in Your Torah.
וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶֽיךָ In the shadow of Your wings,
נֶחֱסֶה וְנִתְלוֹנָן. may we be sheltered and lodged,
כְּיוֹם as on the day [of which it is said:]
וַיֵֽרֶד יְהֺוָה בֶּעָנָן: “When Adonoy descended in the cloud.”1Exodus 34:6.
תַּעֲבֺר עַל־פֶּֽשַׁע Remove [our] transgression,
וְתִמְחֶה אָשָׁם. and blot out [our] iniquity,
כְּיוֹם as on the day [of which it is said:]
וַַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם: “And He stood with him there.”1Exodus 34:6.
תַּאֲזִין שַׁוְעָתֵֽנוּ Give ear to our cry
וְתַקְשִׁיב מֶֽנוּ מַאֲמַר. and listen to our speech,
כְּיוֹם as on the day [of which it is said:]
וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה, “And He proclaimed the Name, Adonoy”1Exodus 34:6.
וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:
And there it is said:
קהל וחזן:
Congregation and Chazzan:
וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהֺוָה עַל פָּנָיו “And Adonoy passed before him [Moses]
וַיִּקְרָא:
and proclaimed:
יְהֺוָה יְהֺוָה Adonoy, Adonoy,
אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן Almighty, Merciful, Gracious,
אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם Slow to Anger,
וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד וֶאֱמֶת: and Abundant in Kindness and Truth.
נֹצֵר חֶֽסֶד Keeper of kindness
לָאֲלָפִים for thousands of generations,
נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶֽשַׁע Endurer of iniquity and transgression,
וְחַטָּאָה and sin,
וְנַקֵּה: And Acquitter of those who repent.”2Exodus 34:7.
וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֺנֵֽנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵֽנוּ “And pardon our iniquity and our sin,
וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ:
and take us for Your inheritance.”3Exodus 34:9.
סְלַח־לָֽנוּ אָבִֽינוּ כִּי־חָטָֽאנוּ. Pardon us our Father, for we have sinned,
מְחַל־לָֽנוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כִּי־פָשָֽׁעְנוּ: forgive us our King, for we have transgressed.
כִּי־אַתָּה אֲדֺנָי For You, my Master,
טוֹב וְסַלָּח are good and forgiving,
וְרַב־חֶֽסֶד and abounding in kindness
לְכָל־קוֹרְאֶֽיךָ:
to all who call upon You.
אָבַד חָסִיד מִן הָאָרֶץ, The pious have disappeared from the earth,
וְיָשָׁר בָּאָדָם אָיִן: and uprightness in man no longer exists.
אֵין־קוֹרֵא בְשִׁמְךָ בְּצֶדֶק, No one calls with Your Name in righteousness,
מִתְעוֹרֵר לְהַחֲזִיק בָּךְ: inspired to be steadfast with You.
הוֹשִׁיעָה יְהוָה Deliver us Adonoy
כִּי־גָמַר חָסִיד for the devoted man has ceased,
כִּי־פַסּוּ אֱמוּנִים for the faithful have disappeared
מִבְּנֵי אָדָם: from among the sons of man.
כִּי־עִמְּךָ מְקוֹר חַיִּים, For with You is the source of life,
בְּאוֹרְךָ נִרְאֶה־אוֹר׃ in Your light shall we see light.
כִּי־עִם־יְהוָה הַחֶסֶד, For with Adonoy there is loving-kindness,
וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת׃ and with Him there is much redemption.
וְהוּא יִפְדֶּה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל And He will redeem Israel
מִכֹּל עֲוֺנֹתָיו׃
from all its iniquities.
כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים As a father has compassion on his children
כֵּן תְּרַחֵם יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ: so do You have compassion on us, Adonoy.
לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה, Deliverance is Adonoy’s;
עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה: upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah!
יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ Adonoy of Hosts is with us,
מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ, אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה: a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah!
יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת, Adonoy of Hosts!
אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּֽטֵֽחַ בָּךְ: fortunate is the man who trusts in You.
יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה, Adonoy, deliver us!
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ:
the King will answer us on the day we call.
קהל ואח"כ חזן:
The Chazzan repeats after the congregation:
סְלַח נָא לַעֲוֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה, “Please pardon the sins of this nation
כְּגֹֽדֶל in accordance with the greatness
חַסְדֶּֽךָ. of Your lovingkindness;
וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָֽׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה. and as You forgave this people
מִמִּצְרַֽיִם וְעַד הֵֽנָּה. from when it left Egypt until now.”
וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:
And there it is said:
הקהל אומרים:
The Congregation says:
וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה “And Adonoy said,
סָלַֽחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶֽךָ:
I have pardoned [them] as you have asked.”
הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמָע, Incline Your ear, my God, and hear,
פְּקַח עֵינֶֽיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵֽינוּ, open Your eyes and behold our desolate places,
וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶֽיהָ and the city which is called by Your Name;
כִּי לֹא עַל צִדְקֹתֵֽינוּ, for it is not on account of our righteousness
אֲנַֽחְנוּ מַפִּילִים תַּחֲנוּנֵֽינוּ לְפָנֶֽיךָ, that we let fall our supplication before You,
כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים: but because of Your great mercy.
אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָֽעָה, אֲדֹנָי סְלָֽחָה, My Master, hear! My Master, pardon!
אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִֽׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה, My Master, listen and take action,
אַל תְּאַחַר. do not delay!
לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי, For Your sake, my God,
כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא because Your Name is proclaimed
עַל עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּֽךָ:
over Your city and over Your people.