The verses "Who is a G-d like You . . . from the days of yore" allude to
the Thirteen Divine Attributes of Mercy. While saying these verses, keep in mind
(but do not articulate) the corresponding attribute printed above it in small type. The
same is true with the verses "From out of distress . . . trust in nobles," which correspond to the nine attributes in the verse
"The L-rd is slow..."
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L-rd, L-rd, benevolent G-d, |
| 1) |
Who is a G-d like You, |
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compassionate |
| 2) |
who pardons iniquity |
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and gracious, |
| 3) |
and forgives transgression |
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slow |
| 4) |
for the remnant of His heritage? |
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to anger |
| 5) |
He does not maintain His wrath forever, |
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and abounding in kindness |
| 6) |
for He desires [to do] kindness. |
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and truth; |
| 7) |
He will again show us mercy, |
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He preserves kindness |
| 8) |
He will suppress our iniquities; |
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for two thousand generations, |
| 9) |
and You will cast all their sins
into the depths of the sea. |
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pardoning iniquity, |
| 10) |
Show faithfulness to Jacob, |
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transgression |
| 11) |
kindness to Abraham, |
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and sin, |
| 12) |
which You have sworn to our fathers |
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and He cleanses. |
| 13) |
from the days of yore. |
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| |
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The L-rd is slow |
| 1) |
in From out of distress I called to G-d; |
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to anger |
| 2) |
with abounding relief, G-d answered me. |
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and abounding in kindness, |
| 3) |
The L-rd is with me, |
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pardoning iniquity |
| 4) |
I do not fear |
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and transgression, |
| 5) |
what can man do to me? |
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acquitting [the penitent] |
| 6) |
The L-rd is with me among my helpers, |
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and not acquitting the impenitent], |
| 7) |
and I will see [the downfall of] my enemies. |
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remembering the iniquity of the fathers for the children, |
| 8) |
It is better to rely on the L-rd than to trust in man. |
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for the third and for the fourth generation. |
| 9) |
It is better to rely on the L-rd than to trust in nobles. |
Sing joyously to the L-rd, you righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to offer praise. Extol the L-rd with a harp; sing to Him with a ten-stringed lyre. Sing to Him a new song; skillfully play sounds of jubilation. For the word of the L-rd is just; all His deeds are done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the kindness of the L-rd fills the earth. By the word of the L-rd the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their hosts.
He gathers the waters of the sea like a mound; He stows away the deeps in vaults. Let all the earth fear the L-rd; let all the inhabitants of the world tremble before Him. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it endured. The L-rd has annulled the counsel of nations; He has foiled the schemes of peoples. The counsel of the L-rd stands forever, the thoughts of His heart throughout all generations. Fortunate is the nation whose G-d is the L-rd, the people He chose as a heritage for Himself. The L-rd looks down from heaven; He beholds all mankind. From His dwelling-place He watches intently all the inhabitants of the earth. It is He who fashions the hearts of them all, who perceives all their actions. A king is not saved through a large army; a warrior is not rescued by means of great strength. A horse is a false guarantee for victory; with all its great strength it offers no escape. But the eye of the L-rd is directed toward those who fear Him, toward those who hope for His kindness, to save their soul from death and to sustain them during famine. Our soul yearns for the L-rd; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, for we have put our trust in His holy Name. May Your kindness, L-rd, be upon us, as we have placed our hope in You.
They shall do no evil nor shall they destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the L-rd, as the waters cover the sea.
May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our fathers, exalted G-d, crowned with thirteen attributes, qualities of mercy, that this shall be a propitious time before You; and may You consider the recitation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy in the verses "Who is a G-d like You..." which correspond to the thirteen attributes "benevolent G-d, compassionate and gracious...," that we recited before You, as if we had comprehended all the esoteric meanings and the combinations of the holy Names that are formed from them, and the joining of their attributes, which, one by one, shall approach to "sweeten" the severe judgments. And so, cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, and bestow upon us from them the bounty of deliverance and mercy. Remember us for life, King who desires life; inscribe us in the Book of Life for Your sake, O living G-d. May we merit to attain teshuvah ila'ah ("higher level repentance"), for Your right hand is stretched forth to receive penitents. Rend the evil [aspect] of the verdict decreed against us; may our merits be stated before You, and may You have forbearance for us for good. Amen.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, L-rd, my Strength and my Redeemer.
If wearing a tallit katan, shake out its corners over the water
