Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

100 JEHUDAH HALEVI

And my tent became a high place for Oholi-
bamah,¹

And Oholibah²—how shall she still hope, and
how long?

Since there is no miracle and no sign, no
vision, no sight—
Dan. 12,6. And should I ask to behold when shall be

the end of these wonders,
11 Kings2,10. The prophecies answer: Thou hast asked
a hard thing.

The daughters lapped in luxury are exiled
from their homes,
isa. 32,18. From green couches and quiet resting places,
isa. 27,11. And scattered amid peoples of no understand-
ing,

isa. 28,11. Of strange lips and other tongues;

Yet have they kept the faith, nurtured among
these,

Ex. 10,3. And to pictured idols have refused to humble
themselves.

Ps. 10,1. Then why standeth He afar off that dwelleth

in the skies,

While my ruler oppresseth and my belovèd
is afar ?3

Neh. 13,6. And as for the end of days—verily one
i Sam. 20,6,28 asketh!

¹ Wife of Esau. (Gen.36, 2,5,18).

^נ Jerusalem. (Ezek.23,4). Note the deft play on

words in lines 15 and 16.

3 Note the play by transposition of letters.