Akdamut-First Day Of Shavuot¹

Before the Words of God Supreme
To-day are read, for this my theme
Approbation will I seek
These my sentences to speak;

Just two or three,
While tremblingly
On Him I meditate:
The Pure, who doth bear
The world for e'er,
His power who can relate?

Were the sky of parchment made,
A quill each reed, each twig and blade,
Could we with ink the oceans fill,
Were every man a scribe of skill,

The marvelous story
Of God's great glory
Would still remain untold;
For He, Most High,
The earth and sky
Created alone of old.

Without fatigue or weary hand,
He spoke the word, He breathed command;
The world and all that therein dwell,
Field and meadow, fen and fell,

Mount and sea,
In six days He
With life did then inspire;
The work when ended,
His glory ascended
Upon His throne of fire.

Before Him myriads angels flash,
To do His Will they run and dash;
Each day new hosts gleam forth to praise
The Mighty One, Ancient of Days;

Six-winged hosts
Stand at their posts -
The flaming Seraphim -
In hushed awe
Together draw
To chant their morning hymn.

The angels, together, without delay,
Call one to another in rapturous lay:

"Thrice holy He
Whose majesty
Fills earth from end to end."
The Cherubim soar,
Like the Oceans's roar,
On celestial spheres ascend,

To gaze upon the Light on high,
Which, like the bow in cloudy sky,
Is iris-colored, silver-lined;
While hasting on their task assigned,

In every tongue
They utter song
And bless and praise the Lord,
Whose secret and source,
Whose light and force
Can ne'er he fully explored.

The heavenly hosts in awe reply:
"His Kingdom be blessed for e'er and aye."
Their song being hushed, they vanish away:
They may ne'er again offer rapturous lay.

But Israel,
Therein excel -
Fixed times they set aside,
With praise and prayer,
Him One declare,
At morn and eventide.

His portion them He made, that they
His praise declare by night and day:
A Torah, precious more than gold,
He bade them study, fast to hold;

That He may be near,
Their prayer to hear,
For always wear will He
As diadem fair
His people's prayer
In His phylactery,

Wherein is told of Israel's fame
Who oft God's unity proclaim.
'Tis also meet God's praise to sing
In presence of both prince and king.

With tempestuous glee,
Like a stormy sea,
They surge and ask: "Who, then,
Is the Friend of thy heart,
For whom thou art
Cast in the lions' den?

How fairer wilt thou be to sight,
If thou with us in faith unite;
Thy favor we shall always seek."
But Israel's sons with wisdom speak:

"0 ye, who are wise
In your own eyes,
How can your trumpery
At all compare
With our great share
When God proclaims us free,

And shines on us in glorious light,
While you are wrapped in gloom of night?
His glory then will shine and gleam -
Almighty God, o'er all supreme!

His enemies,
On isles and seas,
Will suffering endure;
But He'll increase
Abundant peace
To upright men and pure.

Then perfect joy will bring our Lord,
The sacred vessels will be restored;
The exiles, He will gather them
Into rebuilt Jerusalem;

Day and night
Shall be His light
A canopy of splendor;
A crown of praise
His people will raise
To crown their Lord and Defender.

With brilliant clouds He'll ornament
Each deserving festive tent;
The pure, on stools with gold inlaid,
Before the Lord shall be arrayed;

Their countenance bright,
With sevenfold light,
Will dim the heavenly sheen;
Such beauty rare
None can declare,
No prophet's eye has seen.

The joy and bliss of Paradise
Have not been seen by human eyes;
There the pure rejoice and dance
In the light of His countenance;
And point: "'Tis He,
We patiently
Have hoped and waited for,
To set us free
From captivity
And guide us as of yore."

* * *

You upright who heard the voice of my song
May you merit to join this glorious throng;
In heavenly halls you shall meet them in time,
If you hearken His Words, melodious, sublime.

Exalted on high,
For e'er and aye,
Our Lord in glory and awe!
We are His choice,
Then let us rejoice
That He blessed us and gave us the Law.


¹ "Sabbath and Festival Prayer Book" edited by Morris Silverman with Robert Gordis, 1946. USCJ and RA, 185-88.