{"collection":"Judaism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/jud/sig/sig23.htm","path":"jud/sig/sig23.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/jud/sig/sig23.htm","text":"Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol, tr. by Israel Zangwill, [1923]\nGod:\n\"Daughter of Zion, tried in Sorrow\u2019s furnace,\n \u00a0\u00a0E\u2019en as I swore thy fathers, be at rest.\n I swore it for My sake, and now thy crying\n \u00a0\u00a0Hath mounted to My habitation blest,\n \u00a0\u00a0And I have heard, for gracious is My breast.\"\nIsrael:\n\"Obeisance low I made, for I am feeble,\n \u00a0\u00a0Thy kindliness responds to all who yearn.\n Come back, dear Lord, whose name is linked with pardon,\n \u00a0\u00a0No other saviour Israel can discern,\n \u00a0\u00a0Unto his myriad families return!\"\n\"Where\u2019er thy origin, whosoe\u2019er thy master,\n \u00a0\u00a0A man shall come\u2014nay, I\u2014thy cause to plead,\n Whoever holds the bill of thy divorcement.\n \u00a0\u00a0Like wall or tower of fire I guard thy seed,\n \u00a0\u00a0Then wherefore weep or heart affrighted heed?\"\n\"Why do I weep? Because Thou keepest silence,\n \u00a0\u00a0Though violence rages and, all uncontrolled,\n The mob destroys, and we as slaves to strangers,\n \u00a0\u00a0Master and man together, have been sold,\n \u00a0\u00a0And no Redeemer do our eyes behold.\"\n\"Who art thou thus to shrink from man in terror\n \u00a0\u00a0And be dismayed because of mankind\u2019s scorn?\n My angel I will send, as wrote the prophet,\n \u00a0\u00a0And gather Israel winnowed and new-born:\n \u00a0\u00a0This miracle shall be to-morrow morn.\"\n\"To gather me my chieftains Thou didst promise,\n \u00a0\u00a0The day comes not and miracle is none,\n Nor see I Temple built nor any herald\n \u00a0\u00a0Of Peace arrive to be my Holy One\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0Ah, wherefore lingers Jesse\u2019s promised son?\"\n\"Behold, I keep the oath I swore to gather\n \u00a0\u00a0My captives\u2014kings shall bring their gifts to thee;\n Created for a witness to the nations,\n \u00a0\u00a0My holy ones shall testify to Me\u2014\n \u00a0\u00a0Yea, Jesse\u2019s son Mine eyes already see.\"","title":"Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol: 20. Duol...","type":"page"}