Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917.
By Judah Ha-Levi (Trans. Alice Lucas)God, Whom Shall I Compare to Thee?
G
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?
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?
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?
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.
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!
And weary tongues their praise restrain.
Thyself unbound by time and place,
Thou dost pervade, support, embrace
The world and all created space.
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.
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 holy law proclaim and learn.
Is not Thy presence near alway
To them who penitently pray,
But far from those who sinning stray?
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.
The Lord of Hosts! thrice holy is His name!