What Is Avinu Malkeinu?

Avinu Malkeinu (“Our Father, Our King”) is a beloved element of the High Holiday and fast day services. The kernel of this prayer was composed by Rabbi Akiva, who prayed: “Our Father, our King, we have no king other than You. Our Father, our King, for Your sake, have mercy on us.” This was then expanded into the full Avinu Malkeinu, which has become a treasured and revered cornerstone of our people’s liturgy and set to beautiful music.

Avinu Malkeinu in Hebrew

Avinu Malkeinu in English

(The Ark is opened.)

Our Father, our King, we have sinned before You.
Our Father, our King, we have no King but You.
Our Father, our King, act [benevolently] with us for the sake of Your Name.
Our Father, our King, renew for us (on fast days: bless us with) a good year.
Our Father, our King, a good year.
Our Father, our King, remove from us all harsh decrees.
Our Father, our King, annul the intentions of our enemies.
Our Father, our King, foil the plans of our foes.
Our Father, our King, wipe out every oppressor and adversary from against us.
Our Father, our King, close the mouths of our adversaries and accusers.
Our Father, our King, remove pestilence, sword, famine, captivity, and destruction from the members of Your covenant.
Our Father, our King, withhold the plague from Your inheritance.
Our Father, our King, pardon and forgive all our iniquities.
Our Father, our King, blot out and remove our transgressions from before Your eyes.
Our Father, our King, erase in Your abounding mercies all the records of our debts [sins].
Our Father, our King, bring us back to You in wholehearted repentance.
Our Father, our King, send a complete healing to the sick of Your people.
Our Father, our King, rend the evil [aspect] of the verdict decreed against us.
Our Father, our King, remember us with a favorable remembrance before You.

Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur:
Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of good life.
Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of redemption and deliverance.
Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of livelihood and sustenance.
Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of merits.
Our Father, our King, inscribe us in the book of pardon and forgiveness.

On a public fast day (except on the fast of Gedaliah):
Our Father, our King, remember us for a good life.
Our Father, our King, remember us for redemption and deliverance.
Our Father, our King, remember us for livelihood and sustenance.
Our Father, our King, remember us for merits.
Our Father, our King, remember us for pardon and forgiveness.

Our Father, our King, cause deliverance to flourish for us soon.
Our Father, our King, exalt the glory of Israel Your people.
Our Father, our King, exalt the glory of Your anointed one.
Our Father, our King, fill our hands with Your blessings.
Our Father, our King, fill our storehouses with plenty.
Our Father, our King, hear our voice, have pity and compassion upon us.
Our Father, our King, accept our prayer with mercy and with favor.
Our Father, our King, open the gates of heaven to our prayer.
Our Father, our King, let it be remembered that we are but dust.
Our Father, our King, we beseech You, do not turn us away from You empty-handed.
Our Father, our King, may this hour be an hour of mercy and a time of favor before You.
Our Father, our King, have compassion upon us, and upon our infants and children.
Our Father, our King, do it for the sake of those who were slain for Your holy Name.
Our Father, our King, do it for the sake of those who were slaughtered for Your Oneness.
Our Father, our King, do it for the sake of those who went through fire and water for the sanctification of Your Name.
Our Father, our King, avenge the spilled blood of Your servants.
Our Father, our King, do it for Your sake, if not for ours.
Our Father, our King, do it for Your sake, and deliver us.
Our Father, our King, do it for the sake of Your abounding mercies.
Our Father, our King, do it for the sake of Your great, mighty and awesome Name which is proclaimed over us.
Our Father, our King, be gracious to us and answer us, for we have no meritorious deeds; deal charitably and kindly with us and deliver us.

(The Ark is closed.)

Listen to Avinu Malkeinu