The Tenth of Tevet

Selichot la'asarah betevet

סליחות לעשרה בטבת

Visible layers

Hebrew

חִזֵּק כָּל קָמַי, תּוֹכֵן הָעֲלִילוֹת
כִּי מָלְאוּ יָמַי בְּרֹעַ מִפְעָלוֹת
וּמִבֹּשֶׁת עֲלוּמַי שָׁכַחְתִּי גְמוּלוֹת
נוֹתֵן לַחְמִי וּמֵימַי, פִּשְׁתִּי וְצַמְרִי.

Sephardi

Chizek kol kamai, tochen ha'alilot
Ki mal'u yamai bero'a mif'alot
Umiboshet alumai shachachti gemulot
Noten lachmi umeimai, pishti vetzamri.

English

The One who weighs the actions of people, strengthened all my attackers, for my days had been filled with malignant deeds, and in the shamefulness of my youth I forgot the good granted me, and the One who gives me my bread and water, my flax and my wool.

Hebrew

קָמַי פִּיהֶם פָּעֲרוּ וְנַחֲלָתִי בִּלְּעוּ
מְאֹד עָלַי גָּבְרוּ וְדָמִי שָׁתוּ וְלָעוּ
נָכְרִים עָלַי צָרוּ וְאֶת אַחַי הֵרֵעוּ
הָאוֹמְרִים עָרוּ עָרוּ, בְּנֵי שֵׂעִיר הַחֹרִי.

Sephardi

Kamai pihem pa'aru venachalati bil'u
Me'od alai gavru vedami shatu vela'u
Nachrim alai tzaru ve'et achai here'u
Ha'omrim aru aru, benei Se'ir haChori.

English

My attackers opened wide their mouths and swallowed up my legacy. They overcame me utterly, drank my blood and gulped it down. Strangers became my enemies, they injured my brothers – strangers who called out, “Destroy, destroy!” Descendants of Seir the Horite.

Hebrew

אָמְרוּ לְכוּ נְכַלֵּם, וְנַשְׁבִּיתָה זִכְרָם
אֵל קַנּוֹא וְנוֹקֵם, גְּמָלֵם, יִשְּׂאוּ אֶת שִׁבְרָם
כְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם שַׁלֵּם וְיֵבֹשׁוּ מִשִּׂבְרָם
כְּאִישׁ חֲלוֹם חוֹלֵם שְׁלֹשָׁה סַלֵּי חֹרִי.

Sephardi

Amru lechu nechallem, venashbitah zichram
Eil kano venokem, gemalem, yis'u et shivram
Kema'aseihem shallem veyevoshu missivram
Ke'ish chalom cholem sheloshah sallei chori.

English

They said, “Come, let us finish them off, and put an end to their memory.” Jealous, vengeful God, grant retribution; let them load the burden of their own ruin. Pay them back for their actions and have their hopes disgrace them, like the baker who dreamt his dream of three baskets of white bread.

Hebrew

פִּצְעִי לֹא רֻכְּכָה וְחַבּוּרָתִי רֶצַח
וְעֵינִי הִכְהֲתָה, צוֹפָה לְדוֹדִי צַח
הַעוֹד לֹא שָׁכְכָה חֲמָתוֹ לָנֶצַח
עַל מֶה עָשָׂה כָּכָה וּמָה חֳרִי.

Sephardi

Pitz'i lo rukkachah vechaburati retzach
Ve'eini hichahatah, tzofah ledodi tzach
Ha'od lo shach'chah chamato lanetzach
Al meh asah kachah umah chori.

English

My wound was not softened, my bruise enough to kill me, and my eyes have grown dim with watching for my bright-faced Love. Is His anger even now not forever forgotten? Why has He done this; why this burning rage?

Hebrew

רַחוּם זֶה אֵלִי, אַל לָעַד תִּזְנַח
אָרְכוּ יְמֵי אֶבְלִי וְעוֹד לִבִּי נֶאֱנָח
שׁוּבָה אֵל לְאָהֳלִי, מִמְּקוֹמְךָ אַל תֵּנַח
שַׁלֵּם יְמֵי אֶבְלִי כִּי תָבוֹא עַל שִׁבְרִי.

Sephardi

Rachum zeh Eli, al la'ad tiznach
Archu yemei evli ve'od libi ne'enach
Shuvah Eil le'aholi, mimekomcha al tenach
Shallem yemei evli ki tavo al shivri.

English

This God of mine is compassionate; He shall not forever reject. The days of my grief have grown long and still my heart sighs. Return, God, to my tent; do not abandon Your place. Close the days of my grief. Bring my recompense.

Hebrew

יְהֹוָה מְנָת חֶלְקִי, חוּשָׁה לִי לְעֶזְרָה
וּפִתַּחְתָּ שַׂקִּי, שִׂמְחָה לִי לְאוֹרָה
וְתַגִּיהַּ אֶת חָשְׁכִּי בְּאוֹרְךָ לְהָאִירָה
אֶת נֶשֶׁף חִשְׁקִי, כִּי אַתָּה נֵרִי.

Sephardi

Adonai menat chelki, chushah li le'ezrah
Ufitachta saki, simchah li le'orah
Vetagiah et chashki be'orcha leha'irah
Et neshef chishki, ki atah neri.

English

LORD who is the portion allotted me, come to me quickly, help me, and loosen my sackcloth, wrap me around in joy, and dazzle my darkness with Your light – light up the twilight I once longed for, for it is You who are my lamp.