Sunrise On The Mount (Part 1)
Here is my poetic rendition of the sermon on the mount (spans two posts)
A multitude, yea, all of those with unclean spirits vexed,
Gather to Him to hear the Word which heals and protects.
Lifting up His eyes and voice, He taught upon the mount,
Your rewards and your blessings, and how your virtues count.
Blessed are you poor in spirit, the humble hubris-less inherit heaven's realm;
And blessed are you gentle-meek for you shall boldly take the earthly helm.
Blessed are you that mourn and weep for human wrong and sin,
Comfort shall God give you – His arms to hold therein.
Blessed are you that crave for right – enduring dry and parching thirst.
Like a sponge into cup of truth be plunged, sated, saturated, immersed.
Be happy you who mercy sow, forgiveness you invest.
At harvest, reap you mercy and know that you've been blessed.
Happy are the pure in spirit and wise are your decisions.
You clearly see the way to Him, His holy face your visions.
Blessed are the peacemakers – He knows you by your love.
You indeed are children of the one true God above.
Good cheer to those reviled and persecuted in God's holy name.
The world will slander and attack you but you should feel no shame
Like the prophets before you, they thank you with the sword.
Rejoice, Rejoice! and be glad, for so great is your reward.
So all you blessed people, use your blessings well.
Shine your light upon the world – from rooftop and on hill.
You salt the earth, you brighten, you enlighten, and you savor.
But carefully guard the holy truth, or lose all of His favor.
For woe shall come to he whose gifts will he not share,
Like worthless tasteless salt cast out, all blessings shall strip bare.
Oh, you with bellies full, and you whose hearts are filled,
Do your part or like blades of wheat, wither, and be under tilled.
Woe to you who admonish, laugh, and jeer at His holy plan,
Weep and mourn will you when you meet the Son of Man.
You populist false prophets, you demagogues in high regard,
Whose positions gained at cost of truth, will be mocked, de-frocked, disbarred.
Demonstrate the light you have, place it not under bushel.
For if your neighbor truly love, you’ll show him what is crucial.
And if he smites you on the cheek, take not revenge on he.
‘Eye for eye’ may indeed be just, but mercy from you flee.
But, if the other cheek you offer, you stand your moral ground.
Yielding not your soul or thought or hope, your action then is sound.
And watch your tongue, He tells us not to call someone a fool.
Judgment is God's privilege, and He wields many a powerful tool.
If ye judge not with a stone, so ye shall not be judged.
Be ye so forgiving, and to you mercy shall not begrudged.
Does this mean you must accept the rule of sin and wrong?
Endure and love and teach Earth’s lost souls, yet in His law be strong.
For the law shall never pass away, not even jot or tittle,
‘Til all the prophecy fulfill and our judgment yields to His acquittal.
Whosoever breaks the law and leads others down that path,
Shall be the least in Heaven and risks almighty wrath.
For unless you exceed the righteousness of Pharisee and scribe,
You cannot enter into heaven, try ye sneak, or beg, or bribe.
Give, and then recoup great measures of mercy, love, and grain,
For with the same that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.
And as ye would that men do to you, do ye to them too.
Beyond your friend, as any sinner, but to your foe, and great rewards accrue.
Yes, love ye your antagonist, do good, lend, & expect not thanks or gain.
Ye shall be His own, for He is kind, even to unthankful, even unto Cain.
To kill is wrong as we all have known from the time of Abel’s slaying
But angry hatred of your brother risks a sentence never staying.
Since times of old, it has been said, “commit not adultery”
But already have you done this in lusty gazes, wanton and sultry.
It hath been said divorce is as simple as a giving your wife a writ;
But in doing so you cause her & future lovers to adultery commit.
Fix your problems and your sources of iniquity and sin.
Think it through, pluck it out, cast it into the rubbish bin.
Better to lose an eye or limb, rationale, or damned philosophy,
Than your body, mind, and soul to end in fiery catastrophe.
And in your prayers there is no need to go on heathen-like forever.
Sibyl-speech mayn’t reach His ear, so simplify your endeavor.
Saying humbly, ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed it be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on Earth as in Heaven same.’
‘Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we do too in turn.
Lead us not into temptation and deliver us forever from the flames which ever burn.’
Outward piety, in front of men, for self-serving desires, boastful and vain,
Does not garner His reward so focus your entreaties upward, and in his favor remain.
To trumpet your fasting, or the good you do, the alms you give, is vain hypocrisy.
So quietly help the poor; for your Father shall give openly for your gifts in secrecy.
Here is my poetic rendition of the sermon on the mount (spans two posts)
A multitude, yea, all of those with unclean spirits vexed,
Gather to Him to hear the Word which heals and protects.
Lifting up His eyes and voice, He taught upon the mount,
Your rewards and your blessings, and how your virtues count.
Blessed are you poor in spirit, the humble hubris-less inherit heaven's realm;
And blessed are you gentle-meek for you shall boldly take the earthly helm.
Blessed are you that mourn and weep for human wrong and sin,
Comfort shall God give you – His arms to hold therein.
Blessed are you that crave for right – enduring dry and parching thirst.
Like a sponge into cup of truth be plunged, sated, saturated, immersed.
Be happy you who mercy sow, forgiveness you invest.
At harvest, reap you mercy and know that you've been blessed.
Happy are the pure in spirit and wise are your decisions.
You clearly see the way to Him, His holy face your visions.
Blessed are the peacemakers – He knows you by your love.
You indeed are children of the one true God above.
Good cheer to those reviled and persecuted in God's holy name.
The world will slander and attack you but you should feel no shame
Like the prophets before you, they thank you with the sword.
Rejoice, Rejoice! and be glad, for so great is your reward.
So all you blessed people, use your blessings well.
Shine your light upon the world – from rooftop and on hill.
You salt the earth, you brighten, you enlighten, and you savor.
But carefully guard the holy truth, or lose all of His favor.
For woe shall come to he whose gifts will he not share,
Like worthless tasteless salt cast out, all blessings shall strip bare.
Oh, you with bellies full, and you whose hearts are filled,
Do your part or like blades of wheat, wither, and be under tilled.
Woe to you who admonish, laugh, and jeer at His holy plan,
Weep and mourn will you when you meet the Son of Man.
You populist false prophets, you demagogues in high regard,
Whose positions gained at cost of truth, will be mocked, de-frocked, disbarred.
Demonstrate the light you have, place it not under bushel.
For if your neighbor truly love, you’ll show him what is crucial.
And if he smites you on the cheek, take not revenge on he.
‘Eye for eye’ may indeed be just, but mercy from you flee.
But, if the other cheek you offer, you stand your moral ground.
Yielding not your soul or thought or hope, your action then is sound.
And watch your tongue, He tells us not to call someone a fool.
Judgment is God's privilege, and He wields many a powerful tool.
If ye judge not with a stone, so ye shall not be judged.
Be ye so forgiving, and to you mercy shall not begrudged.
Does this mean you must accept the rule of sin and wrong?
Endure and love and teach Earth’s lost souls, yet in His law be strong.
For the law shall never pass away, not even jot or tittle,
‘Til all the prophecy fulfill and our judgment yields to His acquittal.
Whosoever breaks the law and leads others down that path,
Shall be the least in Heaven and risks almighty wrath.
For unless you exceed the righteousness of Pharisee and scribe,
You cannot enter into heaven, try ye sneak, or beg, or bribe.
Give, and then recoup great measures of mercy, love, and grain,
For with the same that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.
And as ye would that men do to you, do ye to them too.
Beyond your friend, as any sinner, but to your foe, and great rewards accrue.
Yes, love ye your antagonist, do good, lend, & expect not thanks or gain.
Ye shall be His own, for He is kind, even to unthankful, even unto Cain.
To kill is wrong as we all have known from the time of Abel’s slaying
But angry hatred of your brother risks a sentence never staying.
Since times of old, it has been said, “commit not adultery”
But already have you done this in lusty gazes, wanton and sultry.
It hath been said divorce is as simple as a giving your wife a writ;
But in doing so you cause her & future lovers to adultery commit.
Fix your problems and your sources of iniquity and sin.
Think it through, pluck it out, cast it into the rubbish bin.
Better to lose an eye or limb, rationale, or damned philosophy,
Than your body, mind, and soul to end in fiery catastrophe.
And in your prayers there is no need to go on heathen-like forever.
Sibyl-speech mayn’t reach His ear, so simplify your endeavor.
Saying humbly, ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed it be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on Earth as in Heaven same.’
‘Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we do too in turn.
Lead us not into temptation and deliver us forever from the flames which ever burn.’
Outward piety, in front of men, for self-serving desires, boastful and vain,
Does not garner His reward so focus your entreaties upward, and in his favor remain.
To trumpet your fasting, or the good you do, the alms you give, is vain hypocrisy.
So quietly help the poor; for your Father shall give openly for your gifts in secrecy.