Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

172 JEHUDAH HALEVI

79

NATURE AND LAW

The words of God are pure
And precious more than gems in fair display;
They are bound up in hearts for ever, yea,
In souls are held secure.

All speech grows weary in pursuit that flies
After His endless praise—
For what hath one of numbered days
To do with infinite eternities?—

As clouds above the dust, above him
soar God's ways.

What of the mind cut short?
And reason that is lacking strength to know?
How should it grasp the way of power—so
Impregnable a fort?

Silence before Him, all that speak of Him!
And perish all their thought!

Only the works His hand hath wrought
Let them declare, and may their lips o'erbrim
With singing and their voice be loud with
praises fraught.

Tongues be fulfilled of speech,
Exalting, crowning, telling o'er His praise;
Souls be extolling, still discerning ways
To learn and tell and teach.