O Lord, our God:
 
At this time of the New Year,
we “remember the days of old,
we consider the years of many generations.” (Deuteronomy 32:7)
Thou art timeless and changeless.
The years pass before Thee
in rapid succession;
sunrise and sunset,
and they are gone.

But to us they are the measure of our lives,
reminders of our impermanence,
and goads to build our destinies
on the Rock of the universe,
on Thee.

At the approach of the New Year,
we ask Thee to bless us, O Lord,
with health,
with goodness,
with understanding.
Help us to achieve comprehension
of our purpose in life:
to be Thy messengers on earth.
Help us to be bearers of love
in a world that cries for love.

May our labors
be labors of aspiration
and accomplishment.
May our ideals
be Thy Torah’s standards
of the dignity of every human being,
of justice,
of right,
of mercy.
Give us zeal
to make our days of worth,
that we may bring goodness into being
in our homes
and in our communities,
“so that the hearts of Thy children
may be gladdened
by the work of our hands.”^[1] From the Union Prayer Book (Revised Edition, 1918), “Evening Service for the Fifth Sabbath of the Month,” p. 35. 

We pray
that this New Year will be for us,
for all mankind,
a year of peace and fulfillment
among men and nations.

Amen.