Prayer before the Sabbath service.

With a humble spirit
and a contrite heart
I come before Thee, O my God,
to implore Thy blessing on the prayers I am about to say.

In Thy Almighty wisdom, Thou hast ordained
that we should be torn from our own land,
and scattered among the nations.
Thy wisdom and Thy wrath are just.

O Eternal,
Thy mercy bore with us,
but we sunk in wickedness,
and Thou, in Thy just anger,
hast banished us from Jerusalem.

Thou hast removed from us Thy holy spirit;
and that holy Temple, once the habitation of our God,
is levelled with the dust,
and there the godless and the wicked dwell.

Terrible was the retribution, O our King;
but even Thy never failing mercy could bear with us no longer.
Thy children are cast from Thee, O God of Israel—
cast from Thee for a Time—
but scattered as we are among the nations,
Thy mercy is extended to us still.

Grant then, O our Father,
that the prayers I am about to say
may be acceptable in Thy sight—
acceptable as if they were offered up in Thy Holy Temple;
O remove from me all worldly and sinful thoughts,
that I may read them with fervour and devotion.
O let the remembrance of Thy mercy,
Thy never-failing goodness,
be alone present to my sight;

O eternal and ever blessed Lord God,
let my heart glow with adoration,
with love and fear;
O pour Thy Holy Spirit on my soul,
that with a humbled heart and contrite spirit
I may come before Thy Throne;

O look down from Thy Throne of dazzling brightness,
O our Father and our King!
Look down on a child of Israel
who bows before Thee in humble and lowly prayer!
O remove from me all sinful and careless thoughts.
Let my prayers be acceptable to Thee, O our Redeemer;

O pour Thy holy spirit on my soul,
though I worship not in that glorious sanctuary,
which for our sins is removed from us!

O look down from Thy throne
and pour Thy blessing on me,
and in Thine infinite mercy, O God,
accept my prayers.

Blessed be Thy Holy Name.
Amen.