David Hakohen
Late 13th century Hebrew liturgical poet
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David Hakohen (also haKohen or Ha-Kohen) was a late thirteenth-century Hebrew liturgical poet from Avignon, who wrote from a Jewish perspective in the troubadouresque tradition.[1][2] His most published work, "Silence and Praise" (Hishtaḥavi u-birkhi), is in the form of a muwashshah, a prelude to prayer. Ironically, the ode pledges that the prayer will be silent. It has been translated into English.[3] It opens like this:
- Bow down, my soul, and kneel before my rock of refuge;
- Praise the Lord and bless Him!
- My lips are too low to sing his high praises.
- My years are too few to recite his glorious works.
- All my days would not suffice to tell his mighty deeds.