Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Jewish

11th Century

About Shelomo ibn Gabirol

Timeline (1021? - 1058)

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English version by
Israel Zangwill

Original Language
Hebrew

Lord of the World

Themes

Wine

Recommended Books

	The Heart and the Fountain: An Anthology of Jewish Mystical Experiences, by Joseph Dan
	Music of a Distant Drum: Classical Arabic, Persian, Turkish & Hebrew Poems, Translated by Bernard Lewis
	The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse, Edited by T. Carmi
	Poetry for the Spirit: Poems of Universal Wisdom and Beauty, Edited by Alan Jacobs

Lord of the world, He reigned alone
     While yet the universe was naught.
     When by His will all things were wrought.
Then first his sovran Name was known.

And when the All shall cease to be,
     In dread lone splendour He shall reign,
     He was, He is, He shall remain
In glorious eternity.

For He is one, no second shares
     His nature or His loneliness;
     Unending and beginningless,
All strength is His, all sway He bears.

He is the living God to save,
     My Rock while sorrow's toils endure,
     My banner and my stronghold sure,
The cup of life whene'er I crave.

I place my soul within His palm
     Before I sleep as when I wake,
     And though my body I forsake,
Rest in the Lord in fearless calm.

-- from The Penguin Book of Hebrew Verse, Edited by T. Carmi

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Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

About Shelomo ibn Gabirol

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World