A Joy for Ever

In Praise of the Torah
Who is this of beauteous countenance that showeth like the sun,
That before men of renown covereth not her fairness?
Pure unto the foster-Father who hath taken her to Himself for a daughter,
She is a joy for ever that groweth not old.''
Before kings she speaketh—she is not ashamed;
She campeth also in the innermost heart of the wise.
Praising herself, she saith: “Verily my Creator
Acquired me before all else, with His right hand.”
To the sons of God she calleth, what time she hath prepared
A table of savoury food and hath made a feast:
“ By me are royal dainties given;
By me the tongue of all the dumb singeth glowing words;
By me the just of heart decree justice;
By me the eye of men in darkness seeth light;
By me the soul that seeketh for my face findeth sweetness,
By me she cleareth every crookedness from off her path;
By me the foot of them that seek me is held ' up from slipping;
By me the hand of them that love me mounteth up above the wealthy.
Mine is strength and mine is glory and mine a robe of honour;
Mine is light like a sun that waneth not towards evening.
Mine are the searchings out of counsel which cannot be likened to fine gold;
Mine dignity and royalty, befitting them that take hold on me;
Mine are the precious things, laid up for the upright;
Mine is the step to the fortress, built for a stronghold.
Unto me they that walk upon the highway bow them down;
For me the soul longeth, yea even fainteth.
Come ye, and eat not the bread of sorrows,
Turn into the garden that hath drunk its fill of the glory of God.
Let not your heart incline after the helpers
Of Rahab, when these run whither they be not bidden.
By the shepherds ’ tents and their footprints, feed your flocks;
Then will ye know that your foot hath never strayed.”
This is she whom they that know her have not concealed;
From age to age hath she been an heritage in their hand.
Her perfume is not changed; as at this day, so was it ever:
She retaineth the same fair form, she groweth not dim.
Refrain, ye men, from being like foxes
Whose way is contrary to the king and his law;
Cease from being head over them that from the law stray far,
And be a tail to the lions’ whelps which she hath reared,
Which eat her bread in order to fight them that wage war on her,’
That would do, every man, as his soul desireth,
Every man of whom goeth his own way, for in truth,
The tooth that eateth sour grapes, that alone is set on edge.
But as for me, I will cleave to her, and my soul shall hold fast
To her cords, and because of her it waiteth for the Lord.
Truly she is my sister, and sheddeth sweetness upon me,
The while I take pleasure in her, and she in me.
I have gloried all my life-long that she is my sister,
And my soul liveth for her sake.