Avraam

Rechytatyv:
Anhel Hospodnii klyknuv do noho z neba i skazav:
"Avraame! Avraame!"
Toi vidpoviv: "Ya tut!"
I skazav: "Ne prostyahai ruky tvoyeyi na hlopcya,
Ne chyny iomu nichoho!
Teper bo znayu, shcho ty boyishsya Boha,
Shcho ty ne poshchadyv svoho syna, svoho yedynoho, dlya mene".

A yakby mene Boh ne spynyv?
A yakshcho b ne podav meni znaku? –
Ya ubyv by tebe, chy ne vbyv,
Synu mii, Isaaku?

Chy doviv by, shcho Boh – nad use,
Chy skonav by shche persh, niz udaryv?..
Tretii den – a mene vse tryase,
Tretii den – a mene vse tryase,
Tretya nich – a meni vse prymary...

I odna z tyh pekuchyh prymar
Pidryvaye shchonochi z posteli:
Bachu, yak Izmayil i Agar,
Yak mii syn Izmayil i Agar
Movchky idut i znykayut v pusteli...

Ya b na Sarru prykryknuv: "Pomovch!.." –
Ale Boh meni movyv: "Tak treba..." –
Chy to serce znechulyla zovch,
Chy to serce znechulyla zovch,
Chy dushi tak zaprahlosya neba...

Nu, to ye vze – po vincya, ushchert;
Dushi velmy do neba ohochi!.. –
To ya sp’yanu krychu v Bozu tverd:
– A svoho ty poslav by na smert –
Podyvyvshys pry tim iomu v ochi?!.

I pochulosya Slovo proste –
Nache viter probih po podvir’yu:
– Bud spasen, Avraame, za te,
Shcho meni ty doviryv ditei –
Ya yim tez kolys syna doviryu...