Joseph, take this book

Mid-11th Century

About This Entry

This short poem was written by Samuel ha-Nagid, to his son Yehosef (here, Joseph) to accompany the gift of an Arabic book that Samuel had copied himself, apparently while on the battlefield. In it, the poet highlights the contrast that he experienced between the life of scholarship and that of war. This is comparable to contemplating the life of knowledge on the one hand and death (or foolishness) on the other, and Samuel encourages his son to apply himself to the former.

Joseph, take this book that I have selected for you from the choice works in the language of the Arabs.

I have copied it,—while the killing spear was sharpened by our hands and the sword drawn.

And death decrees one army to be exchanged for another, even [life’s] time [for its demise].

But I cease not from teaching you though death’s mouth is opened all about me,

In order that wisdom may come upon you,—for it is dearer to me than discovering my foes defeated.

Take it and reflect upon it and quit the crowds who deride language and speech.

Know that the man of understanding is like a tree of sweet fruit whose leaves are healing remedies,

While the fool is like the tree of the forest whose limbs and branches will be consumed by fire in the end.

Translated by Leon J. Weinberger.

Notes

Words in brackets appear in the original translation.

Credits

Samuel ha-Nagid, “Take This Book,” from Jewish Prince in Moslem Spain: Selected Poems of Samuel Ibn Nagrela, ed. and trans. Leon J. Weinberger (University, Ala.: University of Alabama Press, 1973), 65. Used with permission of the publisher.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 3: Encountering Christianity and Islam.