Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

106 JEHUDAH HALEVI

67

A JOY FOR EVER

In Praise of the Torah

Who is this of beauteous countenance that

showeth like the sun,
That before men of renown covereth not her
fairness?

Prov. 8,30. Pure unto the foster-Father who hath taken
Esther 2,7. her to Himself for a daughter,

She is a joy for ever that groweth not old.¹
Before kings she speaketh—she is not ashamed;
Hos. 13,8. She campeth also in the innermost heart of
the wise.

Praising herself, she saith: "Verily my Creator
Prov. 8,22. Acquired me before all else, with His right
hand."

To the sons of God she calleth, what time
she hath prepared
Dan. 5,1. A table of savoury food and hath made a feast:
Sen. 49,20. "By me are royal dainties given;

By me the tongue of all the dumb singeth
glowing words;
⁵rov. 8,15. By me the just of heart decree justice;

By me the eye of men in darkness seeth light;
¹rov. 7,15. By me the soul that seeketh for my face
findeth sweetness,
By me she cleareth every crookedness from
off her path;

¹ Compare the opening lines of Keats' "Endymion."