Song of Israel to God
By Jehudah Halevi
MY Love! hast Thou forgotten
Thy rest
Upon my breast?
And wherefore hast Thou sold me
To be enslaved for aye?
Have I not followed Thee upon the way
Of olden time within a land not sown?
Lo! Seir and Mount Paran—nor these alone—
Sinai and Sin—yea these
Be all my witnesses.
For Thee my love was ever,
And mine
Thy grace divine;
And how hast Thou apportioned
My glory away from me?
Thrust unto Seir, pursued, sent forth to flee
Until Kedar, nor suffered to abide;
Within the Grecian fiery furnace tried;
Afflicted, weighed with care,
With Media's yoke to bear;—
And is there any to redeem but Thee?
Or other captive with such hope above?
Thy strength, O Lord! grant of Thy strength to me!
For I give Thee my love.