Epigrams
Notes
[The word levanim can mean “white” (masc. plur.), or “for the sons.” The word levanot can mean “white” (fem. plur.), or “for the daughters.”—Trans.]
[The word agur can mean either “accumulated” or “I fear.” The word ḥol can mean either “profane” or “sand.” Berekhiah is concerned that because of the foolish sins of his youth, he is unprepared for the grave, the place of worms and soil (or sand).—Trans.]
[The word lamod can mean either “learn” or “to measure.” The word yagel can mean either “rejoice” or “roll.” The “enemy” in the third line is apparently a reference to fate.—Trans.]
[The word nitsim can mean either “striving, struggling” or “desolate, desolation.” The word musar can mean either “moral advice” or “removed.” Berekhiah says that when good and bad impulses strive inside him, he takes to heart that he will one day be dead.—Trans.]
[The word besarim can mean either “over princes” or “flesh.” The word letanot can mean either “to jackals” or “to express lament.”—Trans.]
[The word kerav means both “approach” and “battle.” The word tom means both “end” and “uprightness.” Berekhiah gives advice for the end of life, one’s last battle to stay alive.—Trans.]
[The word ḥomets means both “vinegar” and “rob.” The word le-‘anot means “to afflict,” and the word la-anot, which sounds very similar, means “to sing.”—Trans.]
[The word emunim can mean “accustomed, raised [to something]” or “reliability, faithfulness.” The word levavot can mean “hearts” or “for/as the apple of the eye.” Berekhiah is saying that when wealthy aristocrats die, people mourn them; and they should mourn me even more, because I have been loyal to people, and they actually care about me.—Trans.]
[The word tevel can mean “abominations” or “the earth.” The word mashal can mean “proverb, proverbial” (here: the sinner will suffer such misfortune that it will be a proverb: “May you suffer as much as that man), or “ruled.”—Trans.]
.[The word aḥaz can mean “grabs” or “I’ll see, I’d like to see.” The word goleh can mean “be exiled” or “reveals.”—Trans.]
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 3: Encountering Christianity and Islam.
