For by Thy seers' and servants' mystic speech
Thou didst Thy sov'ran splendor darkly teach.

And from the grandeur of Thy work they drew
The measure of Thy inner greatness too.

They told of Thee, but not as Thou must be,
Since from Thy work they tried to body Thee.
To countless visions did their pictures run,
Behold through all the visions Thou art one.

III

In Thee old age and youth at once were drawn,
The grey of eld, the flowing locks of dawn,

The ancient Judge, the youthful Warrior,
The Man of Battles, terrible in war,

The helmet of salvation on His head,
And by His hand and arm the triumph led.

His head all shining with the dew of light,
His locks of dripping with the drops of night.

IV

I glorify Him, for He joys in me,

My crown of beauty He shall ever be!

His head is like pure gold; His forehead's flame
Is graven glory of His holy name.

And with that lovely diadem 'tis graced,
The coronal His people there have placed."

His hair as on the head of youth is twined,
In wealth of raven curls it flows behind.

His circlet is the home of righteousness; 07 Ah, may He love His highest rapture less!

And be His treasured people in His hand
A diadem His kingly brow to band.

By Him they were uplifted, carried, crowned,
Thus honored inasmuch as precious found.

His glory is on me, and mine on Him,
And when I call He is not far or dim.

Ruddy in red apparel, bright He glows
When He from treading Edom's wine-press goes.

Phylacteried the vision Moses viewed
The day he gazed on God's similitude.

He loves His folk; the meek will glorify,
And, shrined in prayer, draw their rapt reply.

V

Truth is Thy primal word; at Thy behest
The generations pass-O and our quest

For Thee, and set my host of songs on high,
And let my psalmody come very nigh.

My praises as a coronal account,

And let my prayer as Thine incense mount.

Deem precious unto Thee the poor man's song,
As those that to Thine altar did belong.

Rise, O my blessing, to the Lord of birth,
The breeding, quickening, righteous force of earth.
Do Thou receive it with acceptant nod,
My choicest incense offered to my God.

And let my meditation grateful be,
For all my being is athirst for Thee.

JUDAH HE-HASID.
(Translated by Israel Zangwill.)/

The Hymn of Glory

SWEET hymns I chant, and weave melodious

songs

My God, to Thee, for whom my being longs.
O let my soul beneath Thy sheltr'ing hand
Enshaded, all Thy secrets understand.
Whene'er in words Thy glory I would prove,
My panting heart yearns ever for Thy love.
So when in glorious praise of Thee I sing,
With loving cadences my voice shall ring.

I tell Thy glory, God unknown by me,
In metaphors by prophet lips expressed,
Drawing from out Thine actions manifest,
A likeness of Thy power not of Thee.

They imaged Thee in visions manifold,

Though Thou art One beneath all images; They saw Thee both in Age and Youthfulness, Black-haired in youth or grey as one grown old.

Aged as Judge, and Young when war's alarm
To manful striving calls. Then on Thy brow
A helm of triumph binding, forth goest Thou
Victorious through Thy right and holy arm.

With dews of light His head is crowned, His hair
Heavy with night-drops glistens; He shall be
By me adorned for He delights in me,
My garland He, the beauteous crown I wear.

Like purest gold His lustrous head does shine,
Graven in words, His holy name outstands,
Its radiance brightened, by His people's hands,
Who bind a crown unto His crown divine.

And poets pictured His young loveliness,
His black locks flowing in their curled array,
Thus saw they Him. Yet knew His fairest trait,
His beauty's chosen Home, was righteousness.

His treasured people were His royal crown,
He bore them, they were precious in His eyes;
His glory on me rests, mine on Him lies,
He honours me when others cast me down.

In ruddy robe, as one whose red feet fall

On Edom's vines, comes He a God of Woe! The God of Grace who did to Moses show The symbol of His love embracing all.

His wrath the proud, His love the humble find,
His heart delights to glorify the meek;

His seekers He, with answering search, does seek; Thus runs His truth, revealed to all mankind.

Then let my songs, my joyous ecstasies,
Unto Thy diadem a gem confer;
Or as the scented cassia and myrrh,
In fragrant incense unto Thee arise.

Do Thou as precious hold the poor man's cry
As psalmody anigh Thine altar sung;

And may my gift, those blessed gifts among,
Find gracious way to Thee enthroned on high.

And when I praise Thee, bounteous Lord, in song
O deem my offering the choicest spice;
And let my thoughts be a sweet sacrifice,
To lift my heart to Thee, for whom I long.

(Translated by I. A.)

Hymn of Glory

WEET hymns and songs will I indite

SWEE

To sing of Thee by day and night,

Of Thee, who art my soul's delight.

How doth my soul within me yearn
Beneath Thy shadow to return,
Thy sacred mysteries to learn.

And even while yet Thy glory fires
My words, and hymns of praise inspires,
Thy love it is my heart desires.

Therefore will, I of Thee relate
All glorious things, and celebrate
In songs of love Thy name most great.

Thy glory shall my discourse be,
In images I picture Thee,
Although Thyself I cannot see.

In mystic utterances alone

By prophet and by seer made known,
Hast Thy radiant glory shown.

Thy might and greatness they portrayed

According to the power displayed,

In all the works Thy hand has made.

In images of Thee they told

Of Thy great wonders wrought of old,
Thy essence could they not behold.

In signs and visions seen of yore
They pictured Thee in ancient lore,
But Thou art One for evermore.