שְׁמַע קוֹלֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ חוּס וְרַחֵם עָלֵֽינוּ וְקַבֵּל בְּרַחֲמִים וּבְרָצוֹן אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֵֽנוּ כִּי אֵל שׁוֹמֵֽעַ תְּפִלּוֹת וְתַחֲנוּנִים אָֽתָּה וּמִלְּ֒פָנֶֽיךָ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ רֵיקָם אַל־תְּשִׁיבֵֽנוּ כִּי אַתָּה שׁוֹמֵֽעַ תְּפִלַּת עַמְּ֒ךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרַחֲמִים: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה שׁוֹמֵֽעַ תְּפִלָּה:
Hear our voice, Adonay, our God; spare us and have compassion on us, and accept our prayers compassionately and willingly, for You are Almighty Who hears prayers and supplications; and do not turn us away empty-handed from Your Presence, our King, for You hear the prayers of Your people, Israel, with compassion. Blessed are You, Adonay, Who hears prayers.
*Items highlighted are not editorial; they are there to make clear the definition of a particular phrase.
Looking at this text from the weekday Amidah prayer,
- What are some key phrases?
- How would you summarize the text in your own words?
- What are the qualities the text suggests are important for an entity in power?
- What can a petitioner or person expect from those in positions of power?
- What can we learn from the text about the relationship between a person and an entity that is in a position of authority/power?