To You, my heart says

Judah Ibn Quraysh

First Half of the 10th Century

On God’s Splendor

To You, my heart says: Your works are marvelous, and my soul knows this greatly
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, the divine beings make music when the morning stars sing together to serve You
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, mighty powerful [angels] and the host of heaven prostrate themselves
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, [there are] divine beings with banners, and their appearance is like fames of fre
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, [there is] a loud noise of the river of fre, and a thousand thousands [of angels] serving in a troop
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, [there are] a myriad myriads, one kneels and bows, and one makes [praises of] splendor
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, [there are] heavens on high, and dwellers of the footstool [see Isaiah 66:1], and there is none b u t Yo u
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, armies on high recite Your praise; they take no silent time to stop it
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, princes of purity recite clear songs of glory, to make crowns
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, they tremble and fear and stand [Hebrew unclear] and shrink back, finching
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, every knee bends, and every tongue swears, and [You know] everything that is concealed and secret
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You is raiment of might and understanding, and deep judgment, and Your righteousness is steadfast
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You are dominion and greatness, and every beginning and end, since eternity and until eternity
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, [a river of fre] proceeds and goes forth [see Daniel 7:10], and mighty justice, and deep judgment, and mercy supporting [Your] throne
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, seraphim fy, and they relax their wings, and they cover their backs, trembling
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, watchers [see Daniel 4:10] do not sleep; they are awake, without slumber, to give You praise constantly
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, turn [angels with] four faces, each [angel] with a face of a human, lion, ox, and eagle, in array
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, armies [of angels], with backs full of eyes, their backs are high, they are constant [in serving You]
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, they are feet as lightning, fast as fashes, surrounding and dancing
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, winds are angels of fre, they serve You as a fame of fre, burning and blazing
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You, sparks [surround Your throne, which is] established of old
(Psalms 93:2) and the wheels of the throne are held by a fame of fre, as Your seat    —and the eternity and the splendor.
To You is praise, and no guile, and no taking of bribes, and everything fears [You]
   —and the eternity and the splendor.
Translated by Gabriel Wasserman.

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

Engage with this Source

This poem is part of a sequence for the Yom Kippur liturgy, in which each poem elaborates upon a successive word in 1 Chronicles 29:11: “Thine, O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the eternity and the splendor.” This poem is devoted to the word “splendor.” Each stanza begins with the first word from the verse, lekhah (“to you,” which can also mean yours, “thine”), and the next word follows an alphabetic acrostic. Each line in Hebrew rhymes with the Hebrew word for splendor, hod, which is then echoed by the refrain.

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Creator Bio

Judah Ibn Quraysh

9th Century–10th Century

The North African lexicographer Judah Ibn Quraysh is thought to have moved from Tāhert, Algeria, to Fez in 908. He was a foundational figure in the study of the Hebrew language. He may also have been a physician. Ibn Quraysh was responsible for initiating the first thoroughgoing comparative study of Semitic languages, focusing on Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic, but also briefly touching on Latin and Berber. Ibn Quraysh’s “Epistle” proved decisive in later studies of Hebrew, particularly among Andalusi authors.

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