Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

106 JEHUDAH HALEVI

55

ACQUAINTED WITH TRUTH

Thou, acquainted with truth, cast out the
false,

And dwell in the world as though dwelling in
durance.

Thine honour and thy majesty—to serve God

while thou livest,
And to leave worldly honour to others.
It is well if thou wake the dawn to serve Him
And sleep not so long that the dawn wake thee.
Know thy tomorrow while thy today lasteth,
And fear not to leave the earth to strangers.
Is it not better far for thee to minister

before God
Than to be ministering unto mortals—
Before God, whose memory and whose name
Every soul praiseth with joy and songs?