God's Prayer

Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Yose: From where do we know that the Holy One, blessed be He, prays? As it is said: "And I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer" (Isaiah 56:7). It does not say "their prayer," but "My prayer"; from here we learn that the Holy One, blessed be He, prays. What does He pray? Rav Zutra bar Toviya said that Rav said: "May it be My will that My mercy subdue My anger, and that My mercy prevail over My attributes, and that I conduct Myself toward My children with the attribute of mercy, and that for their sake I enter within the boundary of strict justice." It was taught: Rabbi Yishmael ben Elisha said: One time I entered to offer incense in the innermost place, and I saw Akatriel Yah, the LORD of Hosts, who was sitting upon a high and exalted throne, and He said to me: "Yishmael, My son, bless Me!" I said to Him: "May it be Your will that Your mercy subdue Your anger, and that Your mercy prevail over Your attributes, and that You conduct Yourself toward Your children with the attribute of mercy, and that for their sake You enter within the boundary of strict justice." And He nodded to me with His head. And this teaches us that the blessing of an ordinary person should not be light in your eyes.