Songs of Exile/Song of Israel to God
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.