Selected Poems (Engelse vertaling)

14 JEHUDAH HALEVI

6

FOR THE SAKE OF THE HOUSE OF OUR
GOD

The singer's reply to one who reproved him for his long-
ing to go to the Land of Israel

Cant. 5,5. Thy words are compounded of sweet-smelling
myrrh

And gathered from the rock of the mountains
of spice,

And unto thee and the house of thy fathers
belong precious virtues

Whereunto praises fail to attain.

Thou comest to meet me with sweet speeches,

But within them lie men in wait bearing
swords—

Words wherein stinging bees lurk,¹
18. 33,12. A honeycomb prickly with thorns.

If the peace of Jerusalem is not to be sought
11 Sam. 5,6.8. While yet with the blind and the halt she
is filled,

Ps. 122.8-9. For the sake of the House of our God let us
seek

Her peace, or for the sake of friends and of
brothers;

Gen. 44,10. And if it be according to your words, see, there
j09. 2.21. is sin

Upon all those who bend towards her and bow
down,

And sin upon those sires who dwelt in her
as strangers,

And purchased there vaults for their dead.
¹ Note the play on the words ךב:ךים and ךב!ךים.