God, Whom Shall I Compare to Thee?

OD, whom shall I compare to Thee,

When Thou to none canst likened be?
Under what image shall I dare

To picture Thee, when everywhere
All Nature's forms Thine impress bear?

Greater, O Lord, Thy glories are
Than all the heavenly chariots far.
Whose mind can grasp Thy world's design?
Whose word can fitly Thee define?
Whose tongue set forth Thy powers divine?

Can heart approach, can eye behold
Thee in Thy righteousness untold?
Whom did'st Thou to Thy counsel call,
When there was none to speak withal
Since Thou was first and Lord of all?

Thy world eternal witness bears
That none its Maker's glory shares.
Thy wisdom is made manifest

In all things formed by Thy behest,
All with Thy seal's clear mark impress'd.

Before the pillars of the sky

Were raised, before the mountains high

Were wrought, ere hills and dales were known,

Thou in Thy majesty alone.

Did'st sit, O God, upon Thy throne!

Hearts, seeking Thee, from search refrain,

And weary tongues their praise restrain.

Thyself unbound by time and place,

Thou dost pervade, support, embrace
The world and all created space.

The sages' mind bewildered grow,
The lightning speed of thought is slow.
"Awful in praises" art Thy name;

Thou fillest, strong in strength proclaimed,
This universe Thy hand has framed.

Deep, deep beyond all fathoming,
Far, far beyond all measuring

We can but seek Thy deeds alone;

When bow Thy saints before Thy throne,

Then is Thy faithfulness made known.

Thy righteousness we can discern,
Thy holy law proclaim and learn.
Is not Thy presence near alway
To them who penitently pray,
But far from those who sinning stray?

Pure souls behold Thee, and no need.
Have they of light; they hear and heed
Thee with the mind's keen ear, although
The ear of flesh be dull and slow.
Their voices answer to and fro.

Thy holiness for ever they proclaim;

The Lord of Hosts! thrice holy is His name!

JUDAH HA-LEVI.

(Translated by Alice Lucas.)

O Lord, I Call on Thee

LORD, I call on Thee when sore dismayed,
Thou wilt hear my voice and lend me aid,

Nor shall I be of myriads afraid,

For Thou wilt ever be

The portion of my lot-Thou savest me.

In troubled times Thy mercy's plenteous store
Is full to overflowing evermore,

And when in straitness I my plaint outpour

With words entreating Thee,

Then with enlargement Thou dost answer me.

Make known Thy love to those who trust and pray, To those who hold Thy name their help and stay, Waiting for Thy salvation day by day,

Yea, who, O Lord, but Thee

Shall make me glad, who else deliver me?

Do Thou from heavenly heights my pain behold,
And lead me back unto Thy sheltering fold,
That I may answer scorners as of old;
Yea, though my dwelling be

In darkest night, God is a light to me.

ABRAHAM IBN EZRA.

Lord, Thou Great Jehovah
CREATOR, Author of all things!

Thou who didst give to me

My being, hear me while I pray:
From evil set me free-

Give, O give me peace within,

Tho' unworthy I have been;

Help me conquer death and sin

Lord, Thou great Jehovah.

Thy name is love, I know that Thou
Wilt leave none in despair
Who seek Thy face; I know that Thou
Wilt hear the sinner's prayer—
Let me clasp Thy hand in mine,
Let me know Thy peace divine,
Let my will be lost in Thine-
Lord, Thou great Jehovah.

Help me to bear the burden, Lord,
With patience run the race;
And when the storms of life are past.
Grant I may see Thy face-
When earth's night has passed away,
In bright realms of endless day
May I dwell with Thee for aye—
Lord, Thou great Jehovah.

ALBERT FRANK HOFFMANN,

Lord, Do Thou Guide Me

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.-Isaiah xliii. 2.

LORD, do Thou guide me on my pilgrim way,

Then shall I be at peace, whate'er betide me; Then morn is dark, the clouds hang low and gray, Lord, do Thou guide me.

Let not the mists of sin from Thee divide me,
But pierce their gloom with mercy's golden ray,

Then shall I know that Thou in love hast tried me.
Lord, do Thou guide me.

O'er rugged paths be Thou my staff and stay,
Beneath Thy wings from storm and tempest hide me,
Through life to death, through death to heavenly day.
Lord, do Thou guide me.

ALICE LUCAS.

Song of the Dew

Pizmon from the Prayer for Dew of the Musaph Service for the First Day of the Passover.-Sephardic Liturgy.

ORAIN, depart with blessings,

With blessings come, O dew;

For Mighty to Deliver,

Is He that sends the dew.

With psalm and song I'll praise Him,
In rhythms like the dew;
My Rock, my Strong Deliv'rer,
He is, that sends the dew.

His Name with glory covers
His folk, as earth the dew;
A Prince to their deliv'rance

He sends, that sends the dew.

Hasten, O God, Thy promise-
"I will be Israel's dew"-

And Mighty to Deliver,

Let fall this day Thy dew!

(Translated by Solomon Solis Cohen.)

And the Heavens Shall Yield Their Dew

THOU, that art the Trust, the Strength,

The Shield of all that live,

Who givest food to man and beast,

Our year's perfection give

The crowning cloud of summer rain
Or, from night's cloudless blue,

The gentle drops whereof Thou saidst,
"And the heavens shall yield their dew!"