When I seek Thee amongst them that proclaim Thy unity twice, that hope for the day of Thy wonders to be redeemed from their two exiles, I pour out my heart like water in the Song of Ascents; _unto Thee I lift mine eyes, O Thou that art enthroned in the heavens_. O Give ear unto Thy people’s groans and hear their supplications, when they draw near to Thee to set forth their hymns of praise, and when, humbly kneeling, they lift their eyes to Thee: _behold, as the eyes of servants unto the hand of their master_. Deliver from destruction them that seek Thy face; hasten Thy salvation in due time to them that pray for it; look on the afflicted people’s woes, when it renders thanks to Thee: _as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress_. Remember Thy lovingkindness, O God, our Shield; O pity us, have mercy, and forgive our sins; O Thou that art pure, we ever seek Thee, answer us;—_so our eyes look unto the Lord our God, until He be gracious unto us_. Despise not the woes of the remnant of the plundered ones, for the tents of Uz and Buz devoured and destroyed them; Jeush hastes to trample on us, and Buz[81] speeds to spoil; _be gracious unto us, O Lord, be gracious unto us; for we are full sated with contempt_. Tribulations have beset us, and have humbled our heads; we have been left groaning, entangled in our snares. Through the abundance of our guilt, with filth and bitterness _our soul is full sated_. The company of the needy ones, that have escaped and still remain, hope for Thy righteous acts, O Highest of all high. They that are filled with tribulations set forth their meditations;—_with the scorning of those that are at ease and with the contempt of the proud oppressors_. XII. HAI B. SHERIRA GAON [The last Gaon of the academy at Pumbeditha. He was an eminent authority on the Talmud, and numerous responsa written by him are still extant. He was the author of commentaries on talmudic treatises and of a dictionary of difficult words occurring in the Bible, Targum, and Talmud. He also acquired fame as a poet, and was one of the first to employ the Arabic metre in Hebrew poetry. He died 1038.] Maxims and Admonitions[82] Let thy tongue be imprisoned in thy mouth, and in company be thou like one that is mute. Loose not a lion that is bound by thy chain, for if thou settest him free, he will devour thee. Cast not thy gaze upon thy neighbor’s wife, and thine own helpmate keep inside the house; it is glory for women and grace for men that women should not look upon strange men. Make no partnership, though thou needest aid; transact no business with thy kith and kin. Dwell not too long by the river; turn to the mountain on account of the rain. Sow goodness, that thou mayest reap pleasantness, and thy reward from God shall be complete. Be perfect and upright with God, and seek not that which is too high.