Our glory has waned among the nations; they utterly detest us. How long shall thy glory remain in captivity, and thy splendor in the hand of the foe? Arouse thy might and thy zeal against thy enemies, that they may be put to shame and crushed despite their power; let not our sufferings seem trivial to thee. May thy compassion hasten to our aid in the day of our trouble; if not for our sake, act for thy own sake, and destroy not our mere remnant. Be gracious to a people, who fervently proclaim thy Oneness twice a day, saying: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.”[1]
And David said to Gad: “I am deeply distressed; let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great, but let me not fall into the hand of man."[2]
Merciful and gracious God, I have sinned before thee; O Lord, who art full of compassion, have mercy on me and accept my supplications.
Psalm 6
O Lord, punish me not in thy anger; chastise me not in thy wrath, Have pity on me, O Lord, for I languish away; heal me, O Lord, for my health is shaken. My soul is severely troubled; and thou, O Lord, how long? O Lord, deliver my life once again; save me because of thy grace. For in death there is no thought of thee; in the grave who gives thanks to thee? I am worn out with my groaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I cause my couch to melt with my weeping. My eye is dimmed from grief; it grows old because of all my foes. Depart from me, all you evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord receives my prayer. All my foes shall be utterly ashamed and terrified; they shall turn back; they shall be suddenly ashamed.
Lord God of Israel, turn from thy fierce anger, and change thy mind about doing evil to thy people.
Look down from heaven and see how we have become an object of contempt and derision among the nations; we are counted as sheep led to the slaughter, to be slain and destroyed, or to be beaten and disgraced.
On נפילת אפים, the posture assumed during the recital of Taḥanun, see page 103.
