Royal Crown

Royal Crown
by Solomon Ibn Gabirol

Translation of an excerpt from the original, found in Israel Abrahams, Chapters on Jewish Literature, 1899.

My God, I know that those who plead

To thee for grace and mercy need

All their good works should go before,

And wait for them at heaven's high door.

But no good deeds have I to bring,

No righteousness for offering,

No service for my Lord and King.

Yet hide not thou thy face from me,

Nor cast me out afar from thee;

But when thou bidd'st my life to cease,

O may'st thou lead me forth in peace

Unto the world to come, to dwell

Among thy pious ones, who tell

Thy glories inexhaustible.

There let my portion be with those

Who in eternal life arose;

There to purify my heart aright,

In thy light to behold the light.

Raise me from deepest depths to share

Heaven's endless joys of praise and prayer,

That I may evermore declare:

Though thou wast angered, Lord, I will give thanks to thee,
For past is now thy wrath, and thou dost comfort me.