Why Are You Frightened Poem by Shlomo ibn Gabirol

Why are you troubled and frightened, my soul?
Be still and dwell where you are.
Since the world to you is small as a hand,
you won’t, my storm, get far.

Better than pitching from court to court
is sitting before the throne of your Lord;
if you distance yourself from others you’ll flourish
and surely see your reward.

If your desire is like a fortified city,
a siege will bring it down in time:
You have no portion here in this world –
so wake for the world to come.