{"collection":"Judaism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/jud/sig/sig24.htm","path":"jud/sig/sig24.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/jud/sig/sig24.htm","text":"Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol, tr. by Israel Zangwill, [1923]\nEstablish peace, for us, O Lord,\n \u00a0\u00a0In everlasting grace,\n Nor let us be of Thee abhorred,\n \u00a0\u00a0Who art our dwelling-place.\nWe wander ever to and fro,\n \u00a0\u00a0Or sit in chains in exile drear,\n Yet still proclaim where\u2019er we go,\n \u00a0\u00a0The splendour of Our Lord is here.\nSore-tried, involved in heathen mesh,\n \u00a0\u00a0Deep-sunk as though in midmost sea,\n Each morn the thought is roused afresh,\n \u00a0\u00a0Who will arise to set us free?\nFrom rampart and from mountain reft,\n \u00a0\u00a0Immured in thick and pitchy gloom,\n Had not the Lord a remnant left,\n \u00a0\u00a0Death in the dust had been our doom.\nAll realms behold our driven seed,\n \u00a0\u00a0Like wounded doves we fly their hate.\n All nations hunt us and impede\n \u00a0\u00a0And in the desert lie in wait.\nGripped as a bird within a net,\n \u00a0\u00a0Ever pursued in deadly chase,\n With harsh devices daily met,\n \u00a0\u00a0Perchance our God will grant us grace.\nHow many periods are past,\n \u00a0\u00a0And we in exile lingering,\n By enemies encompassed fast,\n \u00a0\u00a0Who jeer that now we have no King!\nThey plot and league in lying spite\n \u00a0\u00a0God\u2019s truth with cunning to eclipse,\n Our tongues, they say, shall give us might,\n \u00a0\u00a0We own no master to our lips.\nShine forth, great God, in splendid flame,\n \u00a0\u00a0Bare Thy great arm of ancient days,\n Be jealous for Thy glorious name,\n \u00a0\u00a0Not unto us, O Lord, the praise.\nTo dust the Arab kingdom sweep,\n \u00a0\u00a0The ravenous beasts who tear and bite,\n Who rend our scattered sons as sheep,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whose motto is to seize by might.\nOur heritage they have possessed,\n \u00a0\u00a0Exiled, devoured us at their will,\n Consumed and wasted and oppressed\n \u00a0\u00a0And machinate against us still.\nSo low our nation hath been brought,\n \u00a0\u00a0So many masters override,\n A little more and it were naught,\n \u00a0\u00a0Had not the Lord been on its side.\nBeneath the feet of slaves we bend,\n \u00a0\u00a0In pit and prison we are pressed,\n The hunters at our necks impend,\n \u00a0\u00a0We labour still and have no rest.\nWhere is that kindness from above\n \u00a0\u00a0Of which Thy servitors have heard,\n The boon of Thy peculiar love,\n \u00a0\u00a0For which we have our fathers\u2019 word?\nO glorious sovran of the height,\n \u00a0\u00a0Abase, destroy their topmost tower,\n The final marvel bring to light,\n \u00a0\u00a0Arise and save us, show Thy power.\nUplift the lowly from the mire,\n \u00a0\u00a0And make our meditation sweet,\n The lily gather from the brier,\n \u00a0\u00a0And our salvation, Lord, complete.\nWith joy the lost and wounded bless,\n \u00a0\u00a0Wipe from all eyes the tears that run,\n Unveil the orb of righteousness,\n \u00a0\u00a0For unto us is born a son.\nO break the yoke, the slave release,\n \u00a0\u00a0Rebuke the arrogant again,\n And send Thy messenger of peace,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whose feet are welcome as the rain.\nRejoice, my dear despised, the King\n \u00a0\u00a0In all His beauty thou shalt see,\n And this the song that men shall sing\n \u00a0\u00a0In Judah\u2019s land, our own and free.\nThe prayer of the meek finds grace,\n \u00a0\u00a0And God will hearken and forgive,\n Tread down corruption, sin erase,\n \u00a0\u00a0And in His light will let us live.\nMy song of penitence He ranks\n \u00a0\u00a0As though an altar-sacrifice.\n Healed of my sins I give Him thanks,\n \u00a0\u00a0Who \u2019spite our deeds remits the price\nDelight and peace from Thee we hail,\n \u00a0\u00a0Thy hand Thy people\u2019s sin outscored,\n Drew o\u2019er iniquity a veil\n \u00a0\u00a0Nor gave wrongdoing its reward.\nPerpetual ascend to Thee\n \u00a0\u00a0Thy people\u2019s and Thy servants\u2019 cries,\n O let us Thy compassion see,\n \u00a0\u00a0And Thy salvation greet our eyes.","title":"Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol: 21. Esta...","type":"page"}