A tekhine when an epidemic breaks out, may the Compassionate One protect us

(The holy prayer to say with great intention when there is an epidemic throughout the land)

Great One of the Worlds, Respected One from the Worlds, in your hand rests the soul of all life,^[1] cf. Job 12:10. The concept is also found in the prayer Nishmat Kol Ḥai, and piyyutim Tsama Nafshi, and Unitaneh Tokef. (see this entry at hatanakh.com.)  — in your hand is the life of all living beings. You have created 903 forms of death,^[2] Talmud Bavli Berakhot 8a – based on a gematria interpretation of Psalms 68:21. (see this article at torah.org)  — you have created nine-hundred and three forms of death to reprove the transgressing people, when they don’t follow your holy will. But you are compassionate and when the transgressors have merit, you judge them gently with loving compassion, and the 903 forms of death have no power over them.

Great One of the world, you have inflicted upon us an epidemic and we understand that you are just, and your judgement is just, for “Hashem is righteous in all of G-d’s ways”^[3] In the prayer, Ashrei (Psalms 145:17).  — the Creator, blessed be G-d, is just in all of G-d’s ways. But, kind heartfelt father in heaven, please do not rebuke us in your anger,^[4] Psalms 6:2 with the addition of the word ‘please.'  — don’t punish us with your anger and may your compassion overcome your judgment through the merit of the prayer that we do now before you, as the verse states: “Pinḥas stepped forth and intervened (prayed) and the plague ceased.”^[5] Psalms 106:30, playing on the word ויפלל. 

Do not take, Good G-d, our beloved and dear ones from us, and do not take from them those who are beloved and dear to them; command the Destroying Angel^[6] The same word משחית is used when the Israelites painted their doorposts with blood, to avoid the destroyer.  to place his sword back in his sheath and no longer rob parents of their children and children of their parents. Send a complete healing to the sick, and protect and preserve those who have not contracted the illness^[7] lit. the healthy  so that they do not, G-d forbid, become ill.

“Answer us, Hashem, answer us,”^[8] Recited in the supplement to the Amidah for a fast-day.  answer us, G-d, and if we have not earned your mercy, “do it for the sake of Your great Name,”^[9] Found in Avinu Malkenu.  — do it for the sake of your great Name, so that your Name be respected^[10] געאַכטעט — an archaic word that is related to אַכטונג or אַכט געבן, which means pay attention to, respect.  and praised. “For the dead cannot praise Yah,”^[11] Psalms 115:17.  — the dead cannot praise G-d. “Please place our tears in Your flask,”^[12] Psalms 56:9, featured in the Neilah piyyut, אזכרה אלהים ואהמיה (Ezkerah Elohim v’Ahameyah), adapted for this tekhine.  — I ask of you, G-d, place our tears in your waterskin and help us so that we no longer need to cry. “Give up anger, abandon fury,”^[13] Psalms 37:8.  — cease being angry and abandon your rage and keep all illness away from us.

May your good angels give soundness of mind to the healers so that they find full healing for the sick of your people,^[14] From the blessing in the Amidah for the sick.  — and send the correct remedy to all those ill. “Remember us for life, Majesty who desires life”^[15] From the Amidah for the High Holidays.  — and may no sickness or epidemic have power over us or our young children. May none of us be torn away from the world before our time and may no one go missing within our boundaries, so that we are able to serve you with joyful hearts. “Heal us Hashem and we will be healed,”^[16] Prayer for healing, based on Jeremiah 17:14.  — heal us, dear G-d, with bodily healing, and we will be healed with the healing of the soul, Amen and Amen.