Selected Poems

by Yehuda HaLevi, Nina Salaman

English, Hebrew (translation)

Genres: Poetry, Judaica

Paperback

First published January 1, 1924

About the author

Yehuda Halevi was an 11th/12th century Andalusian Jewish physician, poet and philosopher. He was born in Spain, either in Toledo or Tudela, in 1075 or 1086, and died in Jerusalem in 1141, at that time under Crusader rule.

Halevi is considered one of the greatest Hebrew poets, celebrated both for his religious and secular poems, many of which appear in present-day liturgy. His greatest philosophical work was The Kuzari.

Reviews

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

With all my heart, in truth, and with all my might
Have I loved You. In open and in secret
Your name is with me: how could I go alone?
He is my beloved: how could I sit solitary?
And He is my lamp: how could my light be quenched?
And how could I halt, since He is a staff in my hand?
Men have held me in contempt, knowing not
That my shame for Your name's glory is my glory.
Fount of my life! I will bless You while I live
And sing You my song while I have my being.

———
This translation of Halevi’s poetry is a century old, full of Thee/Thou; here it is modernized just a bit.
— — —

They that know my sorrow add a spark to the fire of my heart
When they ask me: How is your beloved more precious than another love?
Praises and sayings fail to tell of Him;
He is all desirable, His majesty cannot be sought out;
Therefore do I clothe myself with terrors at His flight.

Ah, pity me, and speak unto the heart so moved.
Or comfort me, for how endure love and separation?

And His name is within me - like fire in my veins,
Bound within my heart, shut up in my bones.
And they rebuke me - they that despise my statutes -
And they reproach me when I seek to serve Him
And they revile me when I give glory to His Name.

They think to set me far, O God, from Your service
But my suffering and oppression are better than estrangement from You;
My portion and my pleasure, the sweet fruit of Your law.
Let my right hand forget - if I stand not before You;
Let my tongue cleave - if I desire anything but Your law.

Lo, in my ears the sound of Your praise
The Red Sea and Sinai are witnesses to Your greatness;
How will my thoughts dwell on any but You?
My heart and my eyes will not suffer my feet to slip
For this: the Lord is One, there is no other.

— — —
His devotional poems rendered into English in this volume are still quite powerful; another more modern translation might better show off the other categories.
— — —

O Lord, before You is my whole desire -
Yea, though I cannot bring it to my lips.
Your favor I would ask for a moment and then die
Ah, would that my entreaty might be granted.
That I might render up the remnant of my spirit to Your hand
Then should I sleep, and sweet my sleep would be.
When far from You, I die while yet in life;
If I cling to You I live, though I should die.

Only I know not how to come before You,
Nor what should be my service, or my law.
Show me, O Lord, Your ways!
And turn me back from the bondage of my folly.
Teach me, while there yet is power in me
To bear affliction. Scorn not my abasement
Before the day I grow a burden on myself,
The day my limbs weigh heavy, each on each,
When I am bowed despite me, and the moth
Eats my bones weary of sustaining me,
And I go forth where my fathers went,
And where they rested find my camping place.
Stranger and sojourner am I upon the earth,
While in her womb is my appointed home.

My youth, until today, has done its pleasure:
But when will I do good for my soul?
The world which You have set within my heart
Has held me back from seeking out just ends.
And how then will I serve my Maker,
While a captive to my lust, a slave to my desire?
And how then will I aspire to lofty places.
When tomorrow the worm will be my sister?
And how upon a day of gladness will my heart be glad;
I know not if it will be well tomorrow.
For lo, the days and nights are pledged together
All to consume my flesh till I am gone,
To scatter to the wind the half of me,
And half restore unto the dust.

What can I say? Temptation does pursue me
As an enemy does, from youth to old age
And what has fate for me if not Your favor?
If You are not my lot, what is my lot?
I am despoiled and naked of good works,
Your righteousness alone my covering -

But why make longer speech, why question more.
O Lord, before You is my whole desire.

[Jasper · Rating 4 out of 5]

wasn't as into these poems as i thought i would be but it's really exciting getting to explore more jewish art and history!