LOVED
OF MY
SOUL
This poem is attributed by some to Jehudah Halevi, by others to Israel Nagara, the most gifted poet of the sixteenth century, who wrote many sacred poems.
Stanza 2, line 3, Numbers xii, 13.
Loved of My Soul
LOVED of my soul! Father of grace!
Lead on Thy servant to Thy favoring sight;
He, fleetly as the hart, shall speed his pace
To bow him low before thy glorious might.
Sweet is Thy love to him beyond compare,
Sweeter than honey, fairer than things fair.
Splendor of worlds! honored, adored!
My soul is sick with pining love of Thee;
My God! I pray Thee, heal her: be implored;
And o'er her let Thy holy sweetness be
A soothing strength to stay her yearning sore;
And joy shall be for her for evermore.
Source of all good! pity Thou me!
And be Thou moved for thy belovèd son.
Ah! would that I could rise aloft and see
The beauty of Thy strength, Thou Mighty One!
These things my soul desireth: Lord, I pray,
Grant me Thy mercy; turn Thee not away.
Be Thou revealed, Dearest of mine!
And spread o'er me Thy canopy of peace;
Lo! with Thy glory all the earth shall shine,
And we shall know a joy that shall not cease.
Hasten, Belovèd, for the time is nigh,
And have compassion as in days gone by.