Gates of Favor

This was such a beautiful piyut for Rosh Hashanah, I had to translate it.

Read the original Hebrew and listen to it here.

Rabbi Yehudah Ibn Abbas (12th c.)
Translated by Aaron Eby

A time for the gates of favor to be opened;
A day I will be extending my hands to God.
I ask that you remember for me on the day of rebuke:
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

At last, he was tested at the end of the ten trials:
The son who was born to you from Sarah,
If your soul is entirely bound up in him,
Arise, offer him to me as a pure offering,
Atop the mountain when the glory shines to you.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

Say to Sarah, Your cherished Isaac
Has grown but has not learned the service of heaven.
I will go and enlighten him whom God commanded.
She said, Go, master, but do not go far.
He answered her, May your heart trust in God.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

It was dawn, and he awoke to travel in the morning,
And his two youths from the men of deceit.
The third day, they arrived at the searched out place
And he saw the likeness of the glory, beauty, and splendor
He stood, and he considered it to be anointed.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

The youths knew that he called them, saying,
Did you see the light sparkling at the top of the mount of myrrh?
And they said, No, we see nothing but a heap.
He answered, Stay here, donkey-like nation,
And the youth and I will worship.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

They two of them walked to accomplish the task
And Isaac answered his father thus:
My father, see the fire, and the arranged wood.
Where, my master, is the lamb that is required by law?
Did you forget your religion today?
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

And his father answered, By the living God, my refuge—
For it is he who will provide the lamb for the burnt offering—
Know that all that God desires, he will do.
Today, my son, we shall build a throne before him.
Then he will elevate both the sacrifice and the one who offers it.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

They knocked at the gates of the Compassionate to open,
The son to be sacrificed and the father to sacrifice.
They hoped in God and trusted in his compassion,
And the LORD exchanged their hope for strength.
They sought to become joined to God’s inheritance.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

He prepared the wood of the offering with might and valor,
And he bound Isaac as one binds a ram,
And the light of day became night in their eyes,
And the multitude of his tears flowed like an army,
Eyes weeping bitterly, and heart joyful.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

They prayed for my mother, for her joy turned;
The son that she bore at ninety years
Was assigned to a fire and a slaughtering knife.
Please, I request for her, comfort, please
It pains me that a mother should weep and sob.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

From the knife, the desert dweller groaned,
Please sharpen it and also my sentence.
Be strong and in a moment may my flesh be fully burnt.
Take the remains of my ashes with you.
And say to Sarah, this is a fragrance for Isaac.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

All of the angels of the chariot groaned,
The Ofan and Saraf angels willingly pleaded
Supplications to God on behalf of the commander in chief
Please give ransom and bring atonement!
Please, may the world not be without the moon.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

The Master of Heaven said to Abraham,
Do not extend your hand to the officer of lights.
Return in peace, angels of the two camps.
This day is merit for the sons of Jerusalem;
On it, I open the gates of compassion .
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

Dweller of heaven, your covenant and oath—
Remember them, for the storm-tossed and afflicted congregation
And hear the tekiah blast and teruah
And say to Zion, the time of salvation has come
I am sending Yinnon* and Elijah.
He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

* The messiah is referred to as Yinnon based on Psalm 72:17.

A time for the gates of favor to be opened;

A day I will be extending my hands to God.

I ask that you remember for me on the day of rebuke:

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

At last, he was tested at the end of the ten trials:

The son who was born to you from Sarah,

If your soul is entirely bound up in him,

Arise, offer him to me as a pure offering,

Atop the mountain when the glory shines to you.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

Say to Sarah, Your cherished Isaac

Has grown but has not learned the service of heaven.

I will go and enlighten him whom God commanded.

She said, Go, master, but do not go far.

He answered her, May your heart trust in God.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

It was dawn, and he awoke to travel in the morning

And his two youths from the men of deceit

The third day, they arrived at the searched out place

And he saw the likeness of the glory , beauty, and splendor

He stood, and he considered to be anointed.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

The youths knew that he called them, saying,

Did you see the light sparkling at the top of the mount of myrrh?

And they said, No, we see nothing but a heap.

He answered, Stay here, donkey-like nation,

And the youth and I will worship.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

They two of them walked to accomplish the task

And Isaac answered his father thus:

My father, see the fire, and the arranged wood.

Where, my master, is the lamb that is required by law?

Did you forget your religion today?

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

And his father answered, By the living God, my refuge,

For it is he who will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.

Know that all that God desires, he will do.

Today, my son, we shall build a throne before him.

Then he will elevate both the sacrifice and the one who offers it.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

They knocked at the gates of the Compassionate to open,

The son to be sacrificed and the father to sacrifice.

They hoped in God and trusted in his compassion,

And Hashem exchanged their hope for strength.

They sought to become joined to God’s inheritance.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

He prepared the wood of the offering with might and valor,

And he bound Isaac as one binds a ram,

And it the light of day became night in their eyes,

And the multitude of his tears flowed like an army,

Eyes weeping bitterly, and heart joyful.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

They prayed for my mother, for her joy turned;

The son that she bore at ninety years

Was assigned to a fire and a slaughtering knife.

Please, I request for her, comfort, please

It pains me that a mother should weep and sob.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

From the knife, the desert dweller sighed,

Please sharpen it and also my sentence.

Be strong and in a moment may my flesh be fully burnt.

Take the remains of my ashes with you.

And say to Sarah, this is a fragrance for Isaac.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

All of the angels of the chariot sighed,

The Ofan and Saraf willingly pleaded

Supplications to God on behalf of the commander in chief

Please give ransom and bring atonement

Please, may the world not be without a moon.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

The Master of Heaven said to Abraham,

Do not extend your hand to the officer of lights.

Return in peace, angels of the two camps.

This day is merit for the sons of Jerusalem;

On it, I open the gates of compassion .

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.

Dweller of heaven, your covenant and oath—

Remember them, for the storm-tossed and afflicted congregation

And hear the tekiah blast and teruah

And say to Zion, the time of salvation has come

I am sending Yinnon and Elijah.

He who bound, he who was bound, and the altar.