Inscriptions on the Doors of the Mantua/Sermide Ark
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The Unique Hymn on the Mantua Torah Ark
This short, unique hymn about the Ten Commandments is dated no earlier than the 16th century. In Italy, many hymns were created for local events or specifically to be used in the synagogue. Therefore, it's most likely that the hymn was created specially, as an inscription for the Holy Ark. The song is divided into twelve verses, each verse containing two lines.
The pairs of lines seems to be Spanish Hebrew monorhyme distichs (a distich is a two lines verse ). The first line of each verse doesn't rhyme with other lines in the verse, nor with the first lines of the other verses, while the second lines all end with the rhyme "el".
there is no man without an avenger
the ten commandments god spoke to us
and with their food- thou shalt not unclean yourself
from Egypt, a people chosen by God
For the cry will be heard
bow to it, for there's no equal to God
nor his ox nor his slave
those who shall- Shalt not be acquitted
is there for a liar against god
Freedom from enslavement through god's hand
for inside it lies the delight of all Israel
long days on god's earth