David Hakohen

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. 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. 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.