At the Hour of Closing

Lord of wondrous workings,

grant us understanding—

now at the hour of closing.

A chosen few are called,

their eyes toward you lifting—

they stand exalted in their trembling

now, at the hour of closing.

They pour forth their souls;

erase, then, their straying—

and grant them, Lord, your absolution

now at the hour of closing.

Be a shelter for them

through all their suffering;

consign them only to rejoicing

now, at the hour of closing.

Show them your compassion,

in your justice turning

on all who brought oppression to them—

now at the hour of closing.

Recall their fathers’ merit

and count it as merit for them;

renew their days as once they were,

now, at the hour of closing.

Call for the year of grace—

the remnant flock’s returning

to Oholìbah and Oholàh—

now at the hour of closing.

Copyright Credit: Moshe Ibn Ezra, "At the Hour of Closing" from The Dream of the Poem: Hebrew Poetry from Muslim and Christian Spain 950-1492 translated by Peter Cole. Copyright © 2007 by Princeton University Press. Reprinted by permission of Princeton University Press.