Halakhah sa Isaias 65:24: Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing, Mishneh Torah, The Order & Mishneh Torah, Repentance

The Blessing that they ordained as a summary of the intermediate blessings is as follows: Give us understanding, O Lord, our God, to know Thy ways, and circumcise our hearts to fear Thee. Be forgiving unto us, so that we may be redeemed. Keep us far from sorrow. Make us prosperous. Cause us to dwell in the pastures of Thy land. Gather the scattered from the four [corners of the earth]. Let them that go astray in the knowledge of Thee be judged;^*According to another reading, “Let them that go astray [learn to] judge according to the [true] knowledge of Thee.” (Rashi quoting Halachoth Gedoloth) Rabbenu Jonah renders, “Let them that go astray be judged according to Thy knowledge.” and over the wicked wave Thy hand. Let the righteous rejoice in the rebuilding of Thy city and in the reestablishment of Thy temple, and in the flourishing of the horn of David, Thy servant, and in the rekindling of the light of Jesse's son, Thine anointed. Before we call, do Thou answer; before we speak, do Thou hearken; as it is said, "And it shall come to pass, before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear" (Isaiah 65:24); for Thou art He who answereth in all times of trouble, who delivereth and rescueth from all distress, Blessed art Thou O Lord who hearkenest unto prayer.

On a fast day, an individual recites the sixteenth blessing according to this formula. Hear our voice, Lord our God, have pity and mercy on us and receive in mercy and in favor our prayers before you. Do not cause us to return empty-handed, our King. Answer us, our Father, answer us on our fast day because in this great distress we do not turn your face from us and do not block your ears from hearing our pleas and may our salvation be soon. Before we call, you answer, we speak and you listen as it is said, "And it will be that before they call, I will answer (Isaiah 65:23)." They also say, "And I will hear because you hear the prayer of of every mouth." Blessed are You, Adonai, who hears prayer. And the representative of the community recites this blessing on behalf of himself. After the seventh blessing, he says "Answer us, etc." until "because you answer at a time of trouble, redeem and rescue us at every time of trouble and distress. Blessed are You, Lord who answers at times of trouble."

How superior is the degree of repentance! But yesterday was this sinner separated from the Lord God of Israel, even as it is said:" But your iniquities have separated between you and your God" (Is. 59.2); cries, but received no answer, even as it is said:" "Yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear" (Ibid. 1.15); does obey commandments, but they are thrown back in his face, even as it is said: "Who hath required this at your hand, to trample My courts"? (Ibid.–12), and, "Oh that there were even among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on Mine altar in vain!" (Mal. 1.10). But to-day he is connected with the Shekinah, even as it is said: "But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day" (Deut. 4.4); he cries and receives answer momentarily, even as it is said: "And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer" (Is. 65.24); he observes commandments, and they are received with pleasure and joy, even as it is said: "For God hath already accepted thy works" (Ecc. 9.7); moreover, his works are pleasurably anticipated, even as it is said: "Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years" (Mal. 3.4).