Viduy is a special set of prayers, “confessions” to be recited when one is not well or right before one should departs from this world. We also recite parts of Viduy on Yom Kippur during the High Holyday period.

If one can not say Viduy, a family member or a friend may right this at patients bedside.

Learn more about Viduy

The returning of one’s soul to G-d at the end of its journey in this world is probably the most profound moment in a person’s life. These prayers evoke G-d‘s mercy, and bring great atonement upon the person.

Viduy reminds us that what really matters is our relationship with G-d and with our fellow man, and not material possessions or accomplishments.

English

I acknowledge before You, Lord my G‑d and the G‑d of my fathers, that my recovery and my death are in Your hands. May it be Your will that You heal me with total recovery, but, if I die, may my death be an atonement for all the errors, iniquities, and wilful sins that I have erred, sinned and transgressed before You, and may You grant my share in the Garden of Eden, and grant me the merit to abide in the World to Come which is vouchsafed for the righteous.

Our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers, may our prayers come before You, and do not turn away from our supplication, for we are not so impudent and obdurate as to declare before You, Lord our G‑d and G‑d of our fathers, that we are righteous and have not sinned. Indeed, we and our fathers have sinned.

We have transgressed, we have acted perfidiously, we have robbed, we have slandered. We have acted perversely and wickedly, we have wilfully sinned, we have done violence, we have imputed falsely. We have given evil counsel, we have lied, we have scoffed, we have rebelled, we have provoked, we have been disobedient, we have committed iniquity, we have wantonly transgressed, we have oppressed, we have been obstinate. We have committed evil, we have acted perniciously, we have acted abominably, we have gone astray, we have led others astray. We have strayed from Your good precepts and ordinances, and it has not profited us. Indeed, you are just in all that has come upon us, for You have acted truthfully, and it is we who have acted wickedly.