Thirteen Attributes of Divine Compassion: An Acrostic Piyyut

Adonai—Adonai, source of compassion
before people sin and
Adonai—compassion after the   
deed is done, whose
El—eternal empathy
for every living thing and neverending
Rakhum—grace for all of
humanity soothes our anxieties, whose
Ve-khanun—infinite mercy brings comfort to those who 
judge themselves too harshly, who is quick to 
Erekh apayim—kindness and 
lovingly slow to anger, who has
Ve-rav hesed—more than enough lovingkindness for everyone who
needs it and is
Ve-emet—overflowing with truth for 
people to find in life’s
Notzer hesed le-alafim—quiet moments, who 
remembers our ancestors, who forgives all of our 
Noseh avon—sins and
transgressions, all of our
Ve-fesha—urges for
violence, and all of our 
Ve-khata—worst mistakes, who
extends boundless compassion to us and, on this 
Ve-nakeh—Yom Kippur, will make our sins
zero so we can be at one.  

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