SHINE, Sabbath Lamp, oh shine with tender ray! | |
| Pierce the soft wavelets of the fading light; | |
| Speed the faint footsteps of the waning day, | |
| And greet the shadows of the coming night. | |
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| Cast thy rays upward,—cleave the darkening air, | 5 |
| And lift a stream of brilliant light on high; | |
| Shine on the wings of Faith, and may they bear | |
| The wavering wandering heart from earth to sky! | |
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| Fling thy beams forward,—may their radiance meet | |
| The welcome presence of the heaven-sent guest; | 10 |
| Illume the path she treads with glistening feet; | |
| The Sabbath Bride of Israel’s panting breast! | |
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| Cast thy gleams backward—Six days’ toils are told; | |
| Soothe with thy smile the wearied breast and brain; | |
| And may thy glittering lustre change to gold | 15 |
| Each seventh link in life’s dull iron chain. | |
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| Shed thy rays downward—may their sacred ray | |
| On life’s rough road of earthly travel shine; | |
| And strew the crags that fret the rugged way | |
| With sparkling gems which breathe a light divine! | 20 |
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| Cast thy beams inward—may they pierce the fold | |
| That each one gathers round his secret breast; | |
| Shew forth the idol in its godless mould, | |
| That we may crush it in our bosom’s nest! | |
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| Shed thy rays outward,—lest at last we grow, | 25 |
| Centered in self—and life’s best purpose mock; | |
| And dwell, unmindful of a brother’s woe, | |
| Like callous limpet on the weed-bound rock. | |
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| Cast thy beams homeward—may they sweetly bear | |
| The smiles of household peace where’er they shine; | 30 |
| Test of an earthly mother’s tender care, | |
| Type of the heavenly Father’s love divine. | |
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| Shine near and far—in every Jewish home— | |
| In every clime—on every distant shore,— | |
| Where in the stranger land the loved ones roam: | 35 |
| Oh! let us greet them in thy gleams once more! | |
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| Ah, shine afar! and may thy waves of light | |
| Bring near the absent dear ones far away, | |
| Show us our loved ones in our dreams to-night,— | |
| Our dead who rest in Heaven’s bright Sabbath day! | 40 |
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| For Faith, like Light, sheds beams on every side; | |
| Faith shares with Light its radiating power, | |
| Then shine, oh Lamp! and greet the Sabbath bride, | |
| And shine, oh Faith! and bless the Sabbath hour. | |
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| Shine on the Past—and, as the raindrops gleam | 45 |
| With rainbow tints where’er the sunbeams rest, | |
| So may our tears grow bright beneath thy beam, | |
| And every grief be sanctified and blest. | |
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| Shine on the Present—may thy beacon-light | |
| Beam on life’s sea where mists and tempests reign; | 50 |
| And may its radiance guide our course aright, | |
| And fling its silvery track across the main. | |
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| Shine on the Future—lead these hearts of ours | |
| Far beyond home and clime and native strand, | |
| Light up the East—gleam on yon ruined towers; | 55 |
| And rend the gloom that veils our long-lost land. | |
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| Shine Sabbath Lamp, with ray of heavenly birth, | |
| Emblem of Faith and Hope in Mercy given; | |
| Gleam on the rude, dark path we tread on earth, | |
| And light our souls to find the road to Heaven. | 60 |
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