Bibical Poetry I: The Very First Poems

Then the human said, “This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one shall be called Woman, for from Man was she taken.”

(18) The Eternal God said, “It is not good for the human to be alone; I will make a fitting helper for him.” (19) And the Eternal God formed out of the earth all the wild beasts and all the birds of the sky, and brought them to the human to see what he would call them; and whatever the person called each living creature, that would be its name. (20) And the human gave names to all the cattle and to the birds of the sky and to all the wild beasts; but for Adam no fitting helper was found. (21) So the Eternal God cast a deep sleep upon the human; and, while he slept, God took from one of his sides and closed up the flesh at that spot. (22) And the Eternal God fashioned the side that God had taken from the person into a woman; and God brought her to the human. (23) Then the human said, “This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one shall be called Woman, for from Man was she taken.” (24) Hence a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, so that they become one flesh.

(23) Then the human said:

This one, this time

Is bone of my bones

And flesh of my flesh.

This one shall be called Woman,

For from Man was this one taken.”

(13) Cain said to the Eternal, “My punishment is too great to bear! (14) Since You have banished me this day from the soil, and I must avoid Your presence and become a restless wanderer on earth—anyone who meets me may kill me!” (15) The Eternal said to him, “I promise, if anyone kills Cain, sevenfold vengeance shall be taken on him.” And the Eternal One put a mark on Cain, lest anyone who met him should kill him.

(23) And Lamech said to his wives,

“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;

O wives of Lamech, give ear to my speech.

I have slain a man for wounding me,

And a lad for bruising me.

(24) If Cain will be avenged sevenfold,

Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”

(1) Give ear, O heavens, let me speak;

Let the earth hear the words I utter!

(2) May my discourse come down as the rain,

My speech distill as the dew,

Like showers on young growth,

Like droplets on the grass.

(18) And he took up his theme, and said: Rise up, Balak, and hear,

Give ear unto me, son of Zippor!

(19) God is not man to be capricious,

Or a mortal to reconsider.

Would God speak and not act,

Promise and not fulfill?

(1) On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang:

(2) When locks go untrimmed in Israel, When people dedicate themselves—

Bless the Eternal!

(3) Hear, O kings!

Give ear, O potentates!

I will sing, will sing to the Eternal,

Will hymn the Eternal, the God of Israel.

(2) Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, For the LORD has spoken:

“I reared children and brought them up—

And they have rebelled against Me!

(1) But now, Job, listen to my words,

Give ear to all that I say.