How can a man endure such sorrows?
I put David back in the bed and covered him, because of the open
windows. I knew that he was dead, but it seemed to me as if he would
be cold. I looked at him for a long time, so as to retain that
beautiful face in my heart.
It was all heart-rending--all! I felt as if my bowels were torn from
me, and in my madness I accused the Lord, and said:
"I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of Thy wrath.
Surely against me is He turned. My flesh and my skin hath He made old:
He hath broken my bones. He hath set me in dark places. Also when I
cry and shout He shutteth out my prayer. He was unto me as a lion in
secret places!"
Thus I walked about, groaning and even blaspheming. But God in His
mercy forgave me; He knew that it was not myself that spoke, but my
despair.
At last I sat down, the others came back. Sorle sat next to me in
silence. Safel said to me:
"Zeffen has gone to the rabbi's with Esdras."