אוֹתְךָ אֶדְרוֹשׁ | Otekha Edrosh, by Rabbi Shimon ben Yitsḥaq of Mainz (rhymed translation by Israel Zangwill, 1904)

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Aharon N. Varady (transcription), Israel Zangwill (translation) and Shimon bar Yitsḥaq of Mainz

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24 January 2026 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

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acrostic, Alphabetic Acrostic, פיוטים piyyuṭim, rhyming translation

Source (Hebrew)	Rhyming translation (English)
אוֹתְךָ אֶדְרוֹשׁ וְאֵלֶֽיךָ אֶתְוַדָּע גָּדוֹל בִּיהוּדָה וּבְיִשְׂרָאֵל נוֹדַע הֵן אַתָּה חֲקַרְתָּֽנוּ וַתֵּֽדָע כִּי פְשָׁעַי אֲנִי אֵדָע׃	Thee I will seek, to Thee unveil my breast, O great in Judah and in Israel blest. For He who searches mortals understands How truly my transgressions are confest.
אֵדַע אֲבָל אֲשֵׁמִים אֲנַֽחְנוּ וּמֵהֲמוֹן רַחֲמֶֽיךָ לֹא זֻנַּֽחְנוּ הֵן אֵלָיו כַּפַּֽיִם שִׁטַּֽחְנוּ כִּי בְשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ בָּטָחְנוּ׃	Ah, verily, not one of us is just! Thy myriad mercies save us from the dust; Lo, unto Thee we stretch our guilty hands, And in Thy holy Name we put our trust.
בָּטַֽחְנוּ בְשִׁמְךָ לְנֶֽפֶשׁ תַּאֲוָה וְהֵפַֽקְנוּ מָגֵן בְּלִי גַאֲוָה הֵן בְּמָעֻזָךְ לַדַּל תִּקְוָה כִּי הִשְׁפִּֽילוּ וַתֹּֽאמֶר גֵּוָה׃	We put our trust, for ’tis our soul’s delight To seek in humbleness Thy shield of might; Thy strength is all the refuge of the poor, And lowly souls Thou placest on the height.
גֵּוָה גֵּאִים עָלַי מַגְדִּילִים בְּרֹֽגֶז שְׂבֵעִים לֹא נֶחְדָּלִים הֵן גְּלַל הַמֵּצִיק מִתְדַּלְדְּלִים כִּי רִצַּץ עָזַב דַּלִּים׃	The haughtiness of upstarts I have borne. Unsated and unceasing is their scorn; Lo! we are wasted of the tyrant boor Who left the helpless utterly forlorn.
דַּלִּים דִּינְךָ פָחֲדוּ וְרָהוּ בָּאִים כְּמוֹדֶה וְעוֹזֵב לְרַחֲמֵֽהוּ הֵן דָּפְיָם הַיּוֹם תְּכַפְּרֵֽהוּ כִּי יוֹם כִּפֻּרִים הוּא׃	Before Thy mercy-seat the beggars pray. Their sins confest, abandoned in dismay; Lo, pardon them and be no longer vext. For is it not the dread Atonement Day?
הוּא הוֹד וְהָדָר יִלְבַּשׁ יָשׁוּב יְרַחֵם וְעָוֺן יִכְבַּשׁ הֵן הֻמְתַּק בְּפִי כִּדְבָשׁ כִּי הוּא יַכְאִיב וְיֶחְבָּשׁ׃	O Thou in majesty and glory girt, Be pitiful and trample sin to dirt; Lo! sweet as honey tastes the holy text, “For He is one who healeth those He hurt.”
וְיֶחְבַּשׁ וְלִשְׁמוֹ כֹּל יוֹדוּ כִּי יָסִיר מַשְׂאֹת כָּבֵֽדוּ הֵן וְעַמּוֹ לְפָנָיו יִתְוַדּוּ כִּי בַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר זָדוּ׃	Yea! He will heal and all shall bless His name. He will remove the burden of our blame; Before His face His people shall avow The sins presumption added to their shame.
זָדוּ זְדוֹנוֹת וּשְׁגָגוֹת שְׁגוּיִם סְלַח נָא בְּפִֽימוֹ הֲגוּיִם הֵן זַכֵּם לִתְחִי אֲחוּיִם כִּי עִמְּךָ מְקוֹר חַיִּים׃	Both these, and those from ignorance that mount, O cease, according to their plea, to count; Lo, life eternal set upon their brow, For, Lord, in Thee, is life’s eternal fount.
חַיִּים חוֹן לְעַם מְנַטְּלֶֽךָ לְבַב עִקֵּשׁ מֵהֶם בְּבַטְּלֶֽךָ הֵן חַשְׁרַת מֵי טֹֽהַר בְּהַטִּילֶֽךָ כִּי טַל אוֹרֹת טַלֶּֽךָ׃	To all who worship Thee grant life and grace. Their heart’s perversity from them erase; Let sprinkled water purify each soul, And let the dew revive each stony place.
טַלֶּֽךָ טְלָאֶֽיךָ בּוֹ לְהִתְכַּפֵּר הָעֵת תַּמְצִיאֵם סְלִיחָה וָכֹֽפֶר הֵן טַהֲרֵם כָּאָמוּר בַּסֵּֽפֶר כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר׃	With dew, O lave Thy lambs from stain and flake. It is the hour, forgiveness is awake. Lo! cleanse them as ’tis written in the Scroll, “For on this day he shall Atonement make.”
יְכַפֵּר יִרְצֶה כְּאָז בְּהַעֲלָיוֹתַי בִּהְיוֹת אֲרִיאֵל בְּבֹֽחַן עֲלִיּוֹתַי הֵן יָדַֽעְתָּ פִּקּוּק חֳלִיּוֹתַי כִּי אַתָּה קָנִֽיתָ כִּלְיוֹתָי׃	And this Atonement shall not be less good. Than when the altar in the Temple stood. Lo! known to Him each sinew of my breast. My reins are fashioned by His fatherhood.
כִּלְיוֹתַי כְּטוּחַי אָכִין לְעָבְדוֹ וְתֶעֱרַב לְפָנָיו תְּחִנַּת עַבְדּוֹ הֵן כַּבֵּד יְכַבֵּד מְכַבְּדוֹ כִּי נִשְׂגָּב שְׁמוֹ לְבַדּוֹ׃	My inward parts I’ll fit for serving Thee, So due acceptance greet Thy servant’s plea. For whoso honours Thee Thou honourest, Thou sole-exalted in sublimity.
לְבַדּוֹ לוֹ לְהִתְחוֹלֵל כׇּל אֱנוֹשׁ אָֽוֶן לֹא יִתְבּוֹנֵן לֶאֱנוֹשׁ הֵן לֹא טוֹב לַצַּדִּיק לַעֲנוֹשׁ כִּי יִרְבֶּה אֱלֽוֹהַּ מֵאֱנוֹשׁ׃	On Thee alone must rest the hope of man. Iniquities Thou wilt not strictly scan; Lo! God the righteous loves not punishment. His ways transcend the little human plan.
מֵאֱנוֹשׁ מִמַּעֲשָׂיו יָגֹֽרְתִּי וְאֻיַּֽמְתִּי פֶּן אֶכָּשֵׁל כַּאֲשֶׁר אָשַֽׁמְתִּי הֵן מְיַחֵל שִׁוִּֽיתִי וְדוֹמַֽמְתִּי כִּי אַחֲרֵי שׁוּבִי נִחַֽמְתִּי׃	’Tis of the deed itself I am afraid, Lest by my sin I shall be duly paid; Yet Him I trust, and wait in dumb assent: Repentance ever brought consoling aid.
נִחַֽמְתִּי נֶֽפֶשׁ נַעֲנָה לְהָשָׂם הִתְוַדּוֹת הַיּוֹם נִסְתָּר וּמְפֻרְסָם הֵן נֶֽצַח לְכִפּוּר הוּשָׂם כִּי בְרִית עוֹלָם שָׂם׃	From soul-affliction did I comfort win, Confessing every public, private sin; Lo! this is the appointed Judgment Day, A covenant eternal set within.
שָׂם סְלִיחָה לְהוֹעִיל לְלַמְּדִי תְּשׁוּבָה מְכַפֶּֽרֶת כְּזִבְחֵי תְמִידִי הֵן סִיְּמָהּ בְּצִלּוֹ לְהַעֲמִידִי כִּי יָדַע דֶּֽרֶךְ עִמָּדִי׃	The day of pardon set to wean from vice. Remorse replacing ancient sacrifice. Ah, could I but beneath His shadow stay! He knows the weakness of my own device.
עִמָּדִי עֲשׂוֹת חֶֽסֶד בְּהַפְלִיאֶֽךָ כִּי תְבַקֵּר צֹאנְךָ וּטְלָאֶֽיךָ הֵן עָלֶֽיךָ יַעֲזוֹב חֵילֶֽךָ כִּי אֶזְכְּרָה מִקֶּֽדֶם פִּלְאֶֽךָ׃	The wonders of Thy grace let me explore, When Thou Thy sheep and lambs art counting o’er; Lo! this Thy flock is shepherded of Thee, Nor e’er forgets the wonders wrought of yore.
פִּלְאֶֽךָ פְעוֹל יְרֵאֶֽיךָ לְנָצְרָם הֱיוֹת יִרְאַת יְיָ אוֹצָרָם הֵן פְּלִילֵֽינוּ לֵידַע בְּהִתְבַּצְּרָם כִּי לֹא כְצֻרֵֽנוּ צוּרָם׃	Renew Thy deeds to save Thy faithful flock. The fear of Thee is all their treasure-stock; Ah, let the foes who judge us learn to see How little is their rock beside our Rock.
צוּרָם צוּר יִשְׂרָאֵל וּקְדֹשׁוֹ יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם לְעֵינֵיהֶם בְּהִתְקַדְּשׁוֹ הֵן צָמְחָה יְשׁוּעָה לְמַקְדִּישׁוֹ כִּי הִשְׁקִיף מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשׁוֹ׃	When “Israel’s Holy Rock” the heathen cry, God in their eyes Himself shall sanctify. Thus righteousness in these He brings to bud, Down-looking from His holy place on high.
קָדְשׁוֹ קוֹמֵם קֳדָשָׁיו לְהַקְרִיבָם לְהַצִּיב הוֹד שְׁכִינָתוֹ בְּקִרְבָּם הֵן קוּמוֹ יֵחַֽתּוּ מְרִיבָם כִּי יְיָ יָרִיב רִיבָם׃	He will restore the Temple and its laws, The glory of His Presence there shall pause; Lo! men shall tremble when the Judge of blood Arises to espouse His people’s cause.
רִיבָם רִיב שׂוֹטְנֵיהֶם לִבְלוֹם יִדְמוּ פֶה קַטֵּגוֹרִים לֶאֱלוֹם הֵן רַעְיָתְךָ תְּהַלֶּלְךָ לְעֵילוֹם כִּי אַחֲרִית לְאִישׁ שָׁלוֹם׃	Ah, side with us, make hostile clamour cease, Thy people from accusing tongues release, So Thy beloved shall rechant Thy praise: For happiness awaits the sons of peace.
שָׁלוֹם שְׁפוֹת לְהַזְרִֽיחַ נְהָרָה הֲגִיגֵֽנוּ בִין כְּמִנְחָה טְהוֹרָה הֵן שִׁכְנְךָ תַּגִּֽיהַּ כָּאוֹרָה כִּי מִצִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה׃	Then let Thy peace irradiate all things, Account our orisons as offerings; Ah, flood us with Thy Presence as with rays. From Ẓíōn goes the Law, the prophet sings:
תּוֹרָה שָׁמְעוּ נֶאֱמָנֶֽיךָ בְּסִינַי רָצֽוּהָ יְצָרֽוּהָ חֲקָרֽוּהָ לְעֵינַי הֵן הַיּוֹם יְכַפֵּר לֶאֱמוּנַי כִּי אֵל רַחוּם יְיָ׃	That Law the faithful heard at Sinai, To which they brought attentive ear and eye. Lo! God this day His faithful nation thanks, He is a God who softens at our cry.
יְיָ יְנַהֲלֵֽנוּ עַלְמוּת לְנַהֲגָה וְיָסִיר מִמֶּֽנּוּ אַף וְתוּגָה הֵן יַעֲבִיר זָדוֹן לִמְשׁוּגָה כִּי לְכׇל הָעָם בִּשְׁגָגָה:	The Lord shall lead us even after death, He saves from wrath and pain our mortal breath; Lo! arrogance as ignorance He ranks, “It is My people’s ignorance,” He saith.

Israel Zangwill’s rhyming translation of Otekha Edrosh by Rabbi Shimon ben Yitsḥaq ben Abun of Mainz, was first published in Arthur Davis and Herbert Adler’s Maḥzor Avodat Ohel Moed: Avodat Yom haKippurim (Evening Service) (1904), pp. 41-43.

Source(s)

Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)

Israel Zangwill (translation)

Israel Zangwill (1864–1926), born in Whitechapel, London, was a British author at the forefront of cultural Zionism during the 19th century, and was a close associate of Theodor Herzl. He later rejected the search for a Jewish homeland in Palestine and became the prime thinker behind the territorial movement

Shimon bar Yitsḥaq of Mainz

Shimon bar Yitsḥaq (also, Simeon bar Isac; ca. 950-ca. 1020), born in Mainz, Germany, was a scholar of his time. As a paytan he composed yotserot, qerovot, seliḥot, hymns, and rashuyyot le-ḥatanim. It is probable that he sang his piyutim himself. His piyutim bare traces of the language found in early piyutim, and they are marked by the pain of the persecutions of the Jews in bar Isaac's lifetime.

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו׃ (תהלים צ:יז) · "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." (Psalms 90:17)