Avinu Malkeinu: Our Father, Our King
Read this prayer below, or listen to this youtube audio. Courtesy of: Beit Hallel Congregation in Roswell, GA.
This short line presents an intro/outro to the Avinu Malkeinu prayer (meaning: "Our Father, Our King"). The full Avinu Malkeinu prayer is recited in a similar, steady and melodic rhythm and presents a list of pleas and requests to our Father and King.
The opening words of Avinu Malkeinu express the dual nature of our connection with God: He is our King, and we are His subjects; He is our Father, and we are His children. As King, He rules with justice and authority; as Father, He relates to us with love, mercy, and forgiveness.
Avinu Malkeinu is a heartfelt prayer of repentance, traditionally recited during Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Rosh Hashanah, and Yamim Noraim (The 10 Days of Awe) in between them.
Transliteration of Avinu Malkeinu:
Avinu malkenu chonenu va'anenu ki ein banu ma'asim
Aseh immanu tzedakah vachesed vehoshi'enu
Avinu Malkeinu Prayer in Hebrew:
אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חָנֵּֽנוּ וַעֲנֵֽנוּ כִּי אֵין בָּֽנוּ מַעֲשִׂים
עֲשֵׂה עִמָּֽנוּ צְדָקָה וָחֶֽסֶד וְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ
Translation of Avinu Malkeinu:
Our Father, our King, be gracious to us and answer us, though we have no worthy deeds.
Deal with us in righteousness and kindness, and save us.
