{"collection":"Judaism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/jud/sig/sig36.htm","path":"jud/sig/sig36.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/jud/sig/sig36.htm","text":"Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol, tr. by Israel Zangwill, [1923]\nLord, what is man but flesh and blood? O weep!\n His days unconscious stray, like shadows sweep,\n His stroke comes sudden and he falls on sleep.\nLord, what is man? A carcase fouled and trodden,\n \u00a0\u00a0A noxious creature brimming with deceit,\n \u00a0\u00a0A fading flow\u2019r that shrivels in the heat.\n Wert Thou as stern as he with sin is sodden,\n \u00a0\u00a0How could he face Thy wrath? Ah, see him creep:\n \u00a0\u00a0His stroke comes sudden and he falls on sleep.\nLord, what is man? He rolls in mud and lies,\n \u00a0\u00a0Insanely fouls the clean and spoils the fine.\n \u00a0\u00a0Did but Thy justice follow his design,\n Mown like the grass were he, or herb that dies.\n \u00a0\u00a0In doom\u2019s dark hour be then Thy pity deep,\n \u00a0\u00a0His stroke comes sudden and he falls on sleep.\nLord, what is man? Proud, born in sin, defiant,\n \u00a0\u00a0His drink is violence and on wrong he feeds.\n \u00a0\u00a0Sea-tossed and furnace-fierce, if judged by deeds\n He would be crushed like weakling fighting giant.\n \u00a0\u00a0Thy mercy therefore let his prayer reap,\n \u00a0\u00a0His stroke comes sudden and he falls on sleep.\nLord, what is man? A trickster vile, abhorred.\n \u00a0\u00a0If Thou shouldst deal with him in equity,\n \u00a0\u00a0A mouldered robe, a scattered cloud were he.\n Therefore forgiveness is his best award.\n \u00a0\u00a0His base is dust, his form a clayey heap,\n \u00a0\u00a0His stroke comes sudden and he falls on sleep.\nLord, what is man? A tree despoiled, mere stubble\n \u00a0\u00a0Its only fruit. Didst Thou his sin repay,\n \u00a0\u00a0He like a snail or wax would melt away.\n Therefore forgive, nor press him in his trouble.\n \u00a0\u00a0Moth-like he rots, old joys he can but weep,\n \u00a0\u00a0His stroke comes sudden and he falls on sleep.\nLord, what is man? A lonely creature driven\n \u00a0\u00a0Like fallen leaf, bemocked by empty words,\n \u00a0\u00a0As full of guile as basket is of birds.\n His rottenness would swift as smoke be riven,\n \u00a0\u00a0Didst Thou his measure, not Thy measure keep.\n \u00a0\u00a0His stroke comes sudden and he falls on sleep.","title":"Selected Religious Poems of Solomon ibn Gabirol: 33. Lord...","type":"page"}