Personal Petitions in the Babylonian Talmud

28b

The sages taught: Upon his entrance [to the house of study—Ed.], what does [a man—Ed.] say? May it be Your will, Lord my God, that no mishap [in determining the halakhah] transpires [caused] by me, and that I not fail in any matter of halakhah, and that my colleagues, [who together with me engage in clarifying the halakhah,] will rejoice in me. [He specified:] And that I will neither declare pure that which is impure, nor declare impure that which is pure, and that my colleagues will not fail in any matter of halakhah, and that I will rejoice in them. Upon his exit, what did he say? I give thanks before You, Lord my God, that You have placed my lot among those who sit in the study hall, and that you have not given me my portion among those who sit [idly] on [street] corners. I rise early, and they rise early. I rise early to [pursue] matters of Torah, and they rise early to [pursue] frivolous matters. I toil and they toil. I toil and receive a reward, and they toil and do not receive a reward. I run and they run. I run to the life of the world to come and they run to the pit of destruction. [ . . . ]

29b–30a

And R. Jacob said [that] R. Ḥisda said: Anyone who sets out on a journey must recite the traveler’s prayer [prior to embarking on his journey]. What is [the formula for] the traveler’s prayer? “May it be Your will, Lord my God, to lead me to peace, direct my steps to peace, and guide me to peace, and rescue me from the hands of any enemy or ambush along the way, and send blessing to the work of my hands, and let me find grace, kindness, and compassion in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see me. Blessed are You, Lord, who hears prayer.” Abaye said: At all times a person should associate himself with the congregation [and should not pray for himself alone]. How should he say [it]? May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You lead us to peace, etc. When does one pray? R. Jacob said that R. Ḥisda said: From when one sets out on his journey, [and not before]. [ . . . ]

16b–17a

After R. Eleazar concluded his prayer, he said the following [additional prayer]: May it be Your will, Lord our God, to cause to dwell in our lot love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. And may You make our borders rich in disciples and cause us to ultimately succeed, [that we will have a good] end and hope. And may You set our portion in the garden of Eden, and may You establish for us a good companion and a good inclination in Your world. And may we rise early and find the aspiration of our hearts to fear Your name, and may the satisfaction of our souls come before You, for the best.

After R. Yoḥanan concluded his prayer, he said the following [additional prayer]: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You look upon our shame and behold our plight, that You clothe Yourself in Your mercy, and cover Yourself with Your might, that You wrap Yourself in Your loving-kindness, and gird Yourself with Your grace, and may Your attributes of goodness and humility come before You.

After R. Zeira concluded his prayers he said the following [additional prayer]: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that we not sin or shame ourselves, and that we not disgrace ourselves before our forefathers.

After R. Ḥiyya prayed he said the following: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that Your Torah should be our vocation, and may our heart not become faint nor our eyes dim.

After his prayer, Rav said the following: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You grant us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of freedom of movement, a life of dread of sin, a life without shame and disgrace, a life of wealth and honor, a life in which we have love of Torah and reverence for heaven, a life in which You fulfill all the desires of our heart for good.

After his prayer, Rabbi said the following: May it be Your will, Lord our God, and God of our forefathers, that You save us from the arrogant and from arrogance, from a bad man, from a bad mishap, from an evil instinct, from a bad companion, from a bad neighbor, from the destructive Satan, from a harsh trial and from a harsh opponent, whether he is a member of the covenant, or whether he is not a member of the covenant. [ . . . ]

After his prayer, R. Safra said the following: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You establish peace in the heavenly entourage [of angels], and in the earthly entourage [the sages], and among the disciples engaged in [the study of] Your Torah, whether they engage in its [study] for its own sake or not for its own sake. And all those engaged [in Torah study] not for its own sake, may it be [Your] will [that] they will come to engage [in its study] for its own sake.

After his prayer, R. Alexandri said the following: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You station us in a lighted corner and not in a darkened corner, and do not let our hearts become faint nor our eyes dim. Some say that this was the prayer that R. Hamnuna would recite, and that after R. Alexandri prayed, he would say the following: Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that our will is to perform Your will, and what prevents us? [On the one hand,] the yeast in the dough [the evil inclination that is within every person]; and the subjugation to the kingdoms [on the other]. May it be Your will that You will deliver us from their hands, [so that] we may return to perform the edicts of Your will with a perfect heart. [ . . . ]

When Mar, son of Ravina, would conclude his prayer, he said the following: My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceit. To those who curse me let my soul be silent and may my soul be like dust to all. Open my heart to Your Torah, and may my soul pursue your mitzvot. And save me from a bad mishap, from the evil inclination, from a bad woman, and from all evils that suddenly come upon the world. And all who plan evil against me, swiftly thwart their counsel, and frustrate their plans. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart find favor before You, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.