I sinned, so Time has weighed me down with chains

Sa‘adia Longo

End of the 16th Century

I sinned, so Time has weighed me down with chains;
   therefore I can’t attend you in your joy.
But though my chariots—my feet—are slow,
   Do not refuse the wish of your anointed (Psalms 132:10).

Translated by
Raymond P.
Scheindlin
.

Credits

Saadia Longo, “I sinned, so time has weighed me down with chains (Hebrew)” (Poem, Salonika, end of the 16th century). Published in: Dov Jarden, “A Collection of Poems by R. Seadya Longo (Hebrew),” Sefunot: Studies and Sources on the History of the Jewish Communities in the East vol. 12 (1971): 81–122:114.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

Engage with this Source

Creator Bio

Sa‘adia Longo

b. ca. 1520

Sa‘adia Longo was probably born in Istanbul. He served as a cantor in the Castilian congregation of Salonika. As he testifies in his own writings, Longo engaged in writing poetry from a young age. A collection of his eulogies and poems, Seder zemanim (Order of Times), was published in 1594. Hundreds of his poems and letters remain in manuscript.

You may also like

Awake, my heart, from your slumber!

A poem that I, Sa‘adia Longo, wrote to an important and wealthy man from Nicopolis, who came here to Salonika to marry a woman. I was not able to participate in his celebration because I was…
View Source

Kentucky

Wide, open, free lay the land, Extending to far horizons. The sandy red tract stretches Far and strange and lonely, Bordered by low wild plants And unknown herbs With…
View Source

The Island on Bird Street

Freddy laid the soldier on the floor and said, “Now that I have a rifle and bullets, I’ll join the uprising tonight. But Henryk will stay with you. His wound isn’t serious. The bullet can be gotten…
View Source