Selichot For The Fast Of Esther

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Hebrew

רוֹעָה הָשִׁיבוּ הֵם קְטַנֵּי קֹדֶשׁ
זֶרַע, יָהּ הַצֵּל לְקֻחִים לַמָּוֶת מֵאוֹיֵב
הָרָע, חַנּוּן נִכְמְרוּ רַחֲמָיו וַיְבַקֵּשׁ
לְבַכּוֹת הַמֵּרָע, וַיְהִי פְלָאֵי מֶלֶךְ
יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַסֵּפֶר וַיִּקְרָע:
יְהוּדִי הוֹקִיעַ יְלָדִים לְמַטָּה
וַאֲבִיהֶם לְמַעְלָה, אִישׁ בְּשָׁלֹשׁ
אַמּוֹת וְהָרְבִיעִית אֲוִיר מְגֻלָּה,
מִשְׁנֶה נָקָם חָזָה וְשָׂמַח וְשָׁר תְּהִלָּה,
אֲתִי הֵשִׁיב עַל כַּנּוֹ וְאוֹתוֹ תָלָה:
וַתִּכְתֹּב אֶסְתֵּר תֹּקֶף לִקְרוֹת
כִּבְהַלֵּל מִיְּהוּדִים, מִלְמַעְלָה
קִיְּמוּ מַה שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ לְמַטָּה הוֹדִים,
נֵס יוֹסֵס לְפַרְסֵם כָּאֵז פְּלָאוֹ
מַסְהִידִים, בָּעֵת הַזֹּאת רֶוַח וְהַצָּלָה
יַעֲמוֹד לַיְּהוּדִים:

Sephardi

Ro'eh hashivu hem ketannei kodesh
zera, Yah hatzel lekuchim lammavet me'oyev
hara, chanun nichmeru rachamav vayevakkesh
levakkot hammera, vayehi fela'ei Melech
Yisrael et hasefer vayikkara:
Yehudi hoki'a yeladim lemattah
va'avihem lema'alah, ish beshalosh
ammot veharevi'it avir megullah,
mishneh nakam chazah vesamach veshar tehilah,
oti heshiv al kanno ve'oto talah:
vattichtov Ester tokef likrot
kivhallel miYehudim, milma'alah
kiyyemu mah shekibbelu lemattah hodim,
nes yoses lefarseim ka'ez pela'o
masehidim, ba'et hazot revach vehatzalah
ya'amod laYehudim:

English

Restore the shepherd, for they are holy little ones, seed of God; rescue those taken to death from the evil enemy. Compassionate One, His mercies were stirred and He sought to cause the evildoer to weep; the King of Israel performed wonders, tore up the decree, and hanged him. The Jew impaled the sons below and their father above, each in three cubits with the fourth cubit left open. He saw double vengeance, rejoiced, sang praise, restored me to my place, and hanged him. Esther wrote the mighty deed to be read in praise by the Jews. Above they confirmed what they had accepted below. The miracle will endure, proclaiming wonders; at this time relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews.

Hebrew

אֵל מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים,
וּמִתְנַהֵג בַּחֲסִידוּת, מוֹחֵל
עֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ, מַעֲבִיר רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן,
מַרְבֶּה מְחִילָה לְחַטָּאִים וּסְלִיחָה
לַפּוֹשְׁעִים, עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקוֹת עִם כָּל
בָּשָׂר וָרוּחַ, לֹא כְרָעָתָם תִּגְמֹל, אֵל
הוֹרֵיתָ לָנוּ לוֹמַר שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה, זְכָר
לָנוּ הַיּוֹם בְּרִית שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה,
כְּהוֹדַעְתָּ לֶעָנָו מִקֶּדֶם, כְּמוֹ
שֶׁכָּתוּב: וַיֵּרֶד יְיָ בֶּעָנָן וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ
שָׁם, וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְיָ:

Sephardi

El Melech yoshev al kisei rachamim,
umitnaheg bachasidut, mochel
avonot amo, ma'avir rishon rishon,
marbeh mechilah lachatta'im uslichah
laposhe'im, oseh tzedakot im kol
basar varu'ach, lo chera'atam tigmol, El
horita lanu lomar shelosh esreh, zechor
lanu hayom berit shelosh esreh,
kehodata le'anav mikedem, kemo
shekatuv: vayered Adonai be'anan vayityatzev imo
sham, vayikra veshem Adonai:

English

Almighty King, Who sits on the throne of mercy and conducts Himself with piety, pardons the iniquities of His people, removing them one by one; Who abundantly grants forgiveness to sinners and pardon to transgressors; Who acts charitably with all flesh and spirit; do not repay them according to their wickedness. Almighty, You taught us to recite the Thirteen Attributes; remember for us today the covenant of the Thirteen Attributes, as You made them known to the humble one in ancient times, as it is written: Adonai descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and he called in the Name of Adonai.

The following, until וְנִחַלְתָּנוּ, is recited only when praying with a minyan.

Hebrew

וַיַּעֲבֹר יְיָ עַל פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא:
יְיָ יְיָ אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב
חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת: נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים
נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה וְנַקֵּה:
וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֹנֵנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵנוּ וּנְחַלְתָּנוּ:

Sephardi

Vaya'avor Adonai al panav vayikra:
Adonai Adonai El rachum v'chanun erech apayim v'rav
chesed ve'emet: notzer chesed la'alafim
nosei avon vafesha v'chata'ah v'nakeh:
v'salachta la'avoneinu ul'chatateinu un'chaltanu:

English

Adonai passed before him and proclaimed: Adonai, Adonai, Almighty, merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in kindness and truth; preserving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and cleansing. Pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your possession.

Gently strike the left side of your chest (over the heart) with a closed fist at the words חָטָאנוּ and פָשָׁעְנוּ.

Hebrew

סְלַח לָנוּ אָבִינוּ כִּי חָטָאנוּ, מְחַל
לָנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ כִּי פָשָׁעְנוּ: כִּי
אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי טוֹב וְסַלָּח, וְרַב חֶסֶד
לְכָל קֹרְאֶיךָ:

Sephardi

S'lach lanu Avinu ki chatanu, m'chal
lanu Malkeinu ki pasha'nu: ki
Atah Adonai tov v'salach, v'rav chesed
lechol kore'echa:

English

Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned; pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and abundant in kindness to all who call upon You.

Hebrew

כִּי עִמְּךָ מְקוֹר חַיִּים, בְּאוֹרְךָ נִרְאֶה
אוֹר: בְּקָרְאֵנוּ עֲנֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵי
יִשְׁעֵנוּ, בַּצָּר הִרְחַבְתָּ לָנוּ, חָנֵּנוּ
וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתֵנוּ: וְעַתָּה יִגְדַּל נָא כֹּחַ
אֲדֹנָי כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ לֵאמֹר:
כְּרַחֵם אָב עַל בָּנִים, כֵּן תְּרַחֵם
יְיָ עָלֵינוּ: לַייָ הַיְשׁוּעָה,
עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶךָ סֶּלָה: יְיָ צְבָאוֹת
עִמָּנוּ, מִשְׂגָּב לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב
סֶלָה: יְיָ צְבָאוֹת, אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם
בֹּטֵחַ בָּךְ: יְיָ הוֹשִׁיעָה, הַמֶּלֶךְ
יַעֲנֵנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵנוּ:
סְלַח נָא לַעֲוֹן הָעָם הַזֶּה כְּגֹדֶל
חַסְדֶּךָ, וְכַאֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה
מִמִּצְרַיִם וְעַד הֵנָּה: וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר:
וַיֹּאמֶר יְיָ סָלַחְתִּי כִּדְבָרֶךָ:
הַטֵּה אֱלֹהַי אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמָע, פְּקַח
עֵינֶיךָ וּרְאֵה שֹׁמְמֹתֵינוּ, וְהָעִיר
אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שִׁמְךָ עָלֶיהָ, כִּי לֹא
עַל צִדְקֹתֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מַפִּילִים
תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, כִּי עַל רַחֲמֶיךָ
הָרַבִּים: אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָעָה, אֲדֹנָי סְלָחָה,
אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִׁיבָה, וַעֲשֵׂה אַל תְּאַחַר,
לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי, כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא עַל
עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּךָ:

Sephardi

Ki imcha mekor chayim, be'orecha nir'eh
or: bekor'enu anenu Elohei
yish'einu, batzar hirchavta lanu, chonenu
ushma t'filateinu: ve'attah yigdal na ko'ach
Adonai ka'asher dibarta leimor:
k'rachem av al banim, ken terachem
Adonai aleinu: la-adonai hayeshu'ah,
al amecha birchatecha selah: Adonai Tzeva'ot
imanu, misgav lanu Elohei Ya'akov
selah: Adonai Tzeva'ot, ashrei adam
boteach bach: Adonai hoshi'ah, hamelech
ya'anenu veyom koreinu:
s'lach na la'avon ha'am hazeh k'godel
chasdecha, v'cha'asher nasatah la'am hazeh
miMitzrayim ve'ad henah: v'sham ne'emar:
vayomer Adonai salachti kidvarecha:
hateh Elohai oznecha ushma, p'kach
einecha ur'eh shomemoteinu, v'ha'ir
asher nikra shimcha alehah, ki lo
al tzidkoteinu anachnu mapilim
tachanuneinu lefanecha, ki al rachamecha
harabim: Adonai shema'ah, Adonai selachah,
Adonai hakshivah, va'aseh al t'achar,
lema'ancha Elohai, ki shimcha nikra al
irecha ve'al amecha:

English

For with You is the source of life; in Your light we see light. When we call, answer us, God of our salvation; in distress You gave us relief; favor us and hear our prayer. And now, may the power of my Lord be magnified, as You have spoken, saying: As a father has mercy on his children, so may Adonai have mercy on us. Salvation belongs to Adonai; may Your blessing be upon Your people forever. Adonai of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold forever. Adonai of Hosts, fortunate is the person who trusts in You. Adonai, save; may the King answer us on the day we call. Please forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your kindness, and as You have forgiven this people from Egypt until now. And there it is said: Adonai said, I have forgiven according to your word. Incline Your ear, my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city upon which Your Name is called. For we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteousness, but because of Your abundant mercy. My Lord, hear; my Lord, forgive; my Lord, listen and act; do not delay. For Your own sake, my God, for Your Name is called upon Your city and upon Your people.

Hebrew

אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ:

Sephardi

Eloheinu veilohei avoteinu:

English

Our God and God of our fathers:

Hebrew

אַתָּה הָאֵל עוֹשֵׂה פְלָאוֹת, בָּעַמִּים
הוֹדַעְתָּ עֹז נוֹרָאוֹת, גָּאַלְתָּ
בִּזְרוֹעַ עַמְּךָ מִתְּלָאוֹת, דִּכִּיתָ
צָרִים בְּמוֹתֵי תַחֲלוּאוֹת:
הָאוֹיֵב בְּקוּמוֹ לְעוֹרֵר מְדָנִים,
וְדִמָּה לְהַכְרִית פִּרְחֵי שׁוֹשַׁנִּים,
זָמַם לִשְׁקוֹל לְגִנְזֵי אֲדוֹנִים, חֲלִיפֵי
מְאַת כִּכְּרֵי אֲדָנִים:
טְלָאֶיךָ הִזְהַרְתָּ שִׁקְלֵיהֶם
לְהַקְדִּים, יָדַעְתָּ הָעֲתִידוֹת
וְדָרַשְׁתָּ נִשְׁקָדִים, כִּבּוּי לְהַמְצִיא
לְלַהַב יוֹקְדִים, לְקֻחִים לַמָּוֶת
לְתֶחִי נִפְקָדִים:
מַסֵּכָה זָרָה בְּעָבְדָם לְפָנִים,
נִמְסְרוּ לְהָתֵז קְנוֹקוֹת הַגְּפָנִים,
סְבָבוּם מוֹקְשִׁים בְּכָל דְּפָנִים, עֵינֵיהֶם
לְךָ תּוֹלִים וּבְסִתְרְךָ נִצְפָּנִים:
פּוּר נֶהְפַּךְ בָּאוֹיְבִים לִשְׁלוֹט,
צָלוּב הוּכַן אֲגָגִי לִקְלוֹט, קוֹלֵעַ
וּבוֹלֵעַ פְּנֵי הַלּוֹט הַלּוֹט, רִיבֵי עַם
בַּאֲשְׁמַנִּים לַעֲלוֹט:
שָׁלוֹם וֶאֱמֶת נִכְתַּב לְכָל צַד,
תּוֹקֶף יֶשַׁע סֶלַע וּמְצָד, שׁוֹדֵד
הוּשְׁדַד וּבְרִשְׁתּוֹ הוּצָד, מַלְשִׁינִי
נִסְחַף נִצְמַת וְנִרְצָד:
עָשׂוּ שִׂמְחוֹת וְלַדּוֹרוֹת קְבָעוּם,
וּמִקְרָאוֹת שִׁלְּשׁוּם וְלֹא רִבְּעוּם,
נִסְכְּמוּ מִמַּעַל וּלְמַטָּה טִבְּעוּם,
בַּסֵּפֶר נֶחְקַק עַל מַה קְבָעוּם:
רָמָה יָדְךָ לִסְלוֹחַ לַפּוֹשְׁעִים,
יְהוּדִי וַהֲדַסָּה הֵקַמְתָּ מוֹשִׁיעִים,
צִדְקָתָם עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד לְשַׁעֲשׁוּעִים,
חֵקֶר כְּבוֹדָם לְהִזָּכֵר לְנוֹשָׁעִים:
קַנֵּא לְשִׁמְךָ נוֹרָא וְנִקְדָּשׁ, חֲזֵה
כַּרְמְךָ נֶהֱרָס וְנִדָּשׁ, זְרוּיֵינוּ קַבֵּץ
וְשִׁיר לְךָ יְחֻדָּשׁ, קַיְּמֵם וְהַחֲיֵם
בְּבִנְיַן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ:

Sephardi

Atah ha-el oseh fela'ot, ba'ammim
hoda'ta oz nora'ot, ga'alta
bizroa amecha mittela'ot, dikkita
tzarim bemotei tachalu'ot:
ha'oyev bekumo le'orer medanim,
vedimmah lehachrit pirchei shoshannim,
zamam lishkol liginzei adonim, chalifei
me'at kikkerei adanim:
tela'echa hizharta shiklehem
lehakdim, yadata ha'atidot
vedarashta nishkadim, kibbuy lehamtzi
lelahav yokedim, lekuchim lammavet
letechi nifkadim:
massechah zarah be'ovdam lephanim,
nimseru lehatez kenokot hagephanim,
sevavum mokshim bechol defanim, enehem
lecha tolim uvesitrecha nitzpanim:
pur nehpach ba'oyevim lishlot,
tzaluv huchan Agagi liklot, kolea
uvolea p'nei hallot hallot, rivei am
ba'ashmannim la'alot:
shalom ve'emet nichtav lechol tzad,
tokef yesha sela umetzad, shoded
hushdad uverishto hutzad, malshini
nischaf nitzmat venirzad:
asu simchot veladdorot keva'um,
ummikra'ot shilleshum v'lo ribbe'um,
niskemu mima'al ulemattah tibbe'um,
bassefer nechkak al mah keva'um:
ramah yad'cha lisloach laposhe'im,
Yehudi vaHadassah hekamta moshi'im,
tzidkatam omedet la'ad lesha'ashu'im,
cheker kevodam lehizzacher lenosha'im:
kanne leshimcha nora venikdash, chazeh
karmecha neheras veniddash, zeruyenu kabbetz
veshir lecha yechuddash, kayyemem vehachayem
bevinian Beit HaMikdash:

English

You are the Almighty Who performs wonders; among the nations You made awesome strength known. With Your arm You redeemed Your people from afflictions and crushed their foes with deadly maladies. The enemy arose to stir up quarrels and planned to cut down rose blossoms. He schemed to weigh out the treasures of lords in exchange for one hundred talents of the sockets. You warned Your lambs to advance their shekels; You knew the future and sought what was prepared, providing a means to quench a blazing flame and appointing those taken to death for life. Because they had formerly served a strange image, they were handed over to have tendrils and vines cut off. Snares surrounded them on every side; their eyes were raised to You, and they were sheltered in Your concealment. The lot was reversed so that they ruled their enemies. A gallows was prepared to receive the Agagite; it trapped and swallowed the face of the enveloping veil, and the adversaries of the people were wrapped in darkness. Peace and truth were written to every side, with the strength of salvation, rock and fortress. The despoiler was despoiled and caught in his own net; my slanderer was swept away, silenced and crushed. They made celebrations and established them for generations; the Scriptural readings were repeated three times but not a fourth. They were agreed upon above and sealed below; in the book was inscribed why they were established. Your hand is raised to forgive transgressors. You established the Jew and Hadassah as saviors; their righteousness stands forever as a delight, and the depth of their honor is remembered by those who were saved. Be zealous for Your awesome and sanctified Name. See Your vineyard, destroyed and trampled; gather our scattered ones so that a song to You may be renewed. Sustain them and revive them through the rebuilding of the Holy Temple.