Poem by Judah Halevi

With all my strength and spirit, I adore

You, Truth, aloud and in my secret core.

I hoard your name. And who can rob this spoil?

He is my love. What other could I crave?

He is my light. How could my lamp need oil?

How can I falter, leaned on such a stave?

They mock, and do not know that mockery,

Because I praise your name, is praise to me.

Source of my life, your praise shall sound as long

As I can breathe my fervor into song.  

Judah Halevi was a Spanish Hebrew poet and philospherwho lived during the 11th and 12th centuries. Translation by Olga Marx.