Rhyming Redsong: Matthew 5 (Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount)
When Jesus saw the vastness of the crowds
he went up and sat on its side, the mount’s.
Disciples, his, to that place came to him,
and he began to teach the following:
He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for
theirs is the kingdom, heaven’s. Those who mourn
are blessed for they’ll be comforted for sure.
The meek are blessed for what they get, the earth,
as their inheritance. Those too are blessed
who hunger, also, thirst for righteousness,
for they’ll be filled. Blessed are the merciful,
for mercy will be shown to them as well.
Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see
God. Blessed are they who’re always making peace,
for children of God, called, what they will be.
Blessed, those ones who because of righteousness
are persecuted, what can they expect?
It will be theirs, the kingdom of it, heav’n.”
“Blessed are you when the people insult you,
when they will slander, and you, persecute,
because of me. Rejoice and then be glad,
because it’s great, in heaven, your reward,
for in the same way did they persecute,
of old, the prophets who preceded you.”
“That of the earth, the salt, that’s what you are.
But if the salt has saltiness no more,
how can it be made salty once again?
It is no longer good for anything,
except to be thrown out and, underfoot,
be trampled. You are, of the world, its light.
A town built on a hill, you cannot hide.
Do people neither light a lamp and place
it ‘neath a bowl. Instead, its stand, where they
will put it, light, to everyone, conveys,
who’s in the house. As well, in the same way,
let your light shine ‘fore others, so that they
may see your good deeds and will glorify
your Father who’s in heaven, up on high.
“Don’t think that, to abolish them, I would,
the Law or Prophets; but to, them, fulfill.
For truly I tell you, until the earth
and heaven both will vanish, disappear,
no, not the smallest letter, not the least
stroke of a pen, will they by any means
e’er disappear from it, the Law, until
it is accomplished, everything, yes, all.
Therefore if anyone would set aside
one of the least of these commands, denied,
and teaches others too accordingly
will be called, in the place of heaven, least,
but whoe’er practices and teaches these
commands will be called great in that of heav’n,
its kingdom. For I tell you that unless
your righteousness, o’er theirs, it would surpass,
the Pharisees’ and teachers of the law,
from ent’ring heaven’s kingdom, you’ll be barred.
“You’ve heard it said to people long ago,
‘You shall not murder, and somebody who
would murder will, to judgment, subject, be.’
But I tell you, if anyone would feel
toward brother, sister, angry, they will be
to judgment, subject. Too, if anyone
who to their brother, sister, they’d intone:
‘Raca,’ is to the court, answerable.
As well, if anyone who says, ‘You fool!’
will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you, your gift, are offering
upon the altar, there, remembering
your brother, sister ‘gainst you has something,
your gift, before the altar, there, just leave.
First go and to them, reconciled, be;
then after, come and offer up your gift.
“Your adversary, settle matters swift
with them, the one who, you, to court will take.
Do that while you are still upon the way
together, or your adversary may
hand you o’er to the judge, and the next day,
the judge will hand you to the officer,
and you into the prison are transferred.
I tell you, truly, freedom, you’ll ne’er earn,
until the penny, last, you’ve paid, returned.
“You have heard that it has been said before,
‘You shall, adultery, commit, not e’er.’
But, if someone who looks, what I tell you,
upon a woman, lust inside them grew,
already has committed in his heart
adultery. To stumble, if your right
eye causes that, then you should gouge it out,
and throw, away, it. Yes, without a doubt,
it’s better for you to lose just one part
of that, your body, than for all of it
to go to hell. It has been said before,
‘If anyone, his wife, he would divorce,
he must give a certificate to her,
one of divorce.’ But what I tell to you
that anyone, his wife, divorce, who would,
except, with sex, for immorality,
makes her the victim of adultery,
and anyone, a woman they would wed,
divorced, adultery commits, who’s been.
“Again, you, to the people, heard it spake
from long ago, ‘Do not, your oath, e’er break,
but to the LORD, fulfill the vows you’ve made.’
But I tell you, don’t swear at all, an oath:
by heaven, either, for it is God’s throne;
or by the earth, for that, his footstool, is;
or by Jerusalem, for it is his,
the Great King’s city. By your head, don’t swear,
for you can’t make it, white or black, one hair.
All you should say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;
all else comes from the evil one below.
“You’ve heard that it was said, ‘An eye for eye,
and tooth for tooth.’ I tell you, never try
to them, resist, a person, evil, who’s.
If anyone, your right cheek, slap, they would,
the other cheek, to them, that, as well, turn.
If anyone would sue you for your shirt,
hand o’er your coat as well. If anyone,
to go one mile, would force you, go with them
two miles. Who’d ask you, give unto that one
and don’t, away, from he who wants to, turn,
funds, borrow from you. You’ve heard it’s been said,
‘Your neighbors, love for them, what you should have,
but all your enemies, them, you should hate.’
I tell you, love your enemies and pray
for those who you, would persecute, that you
may, children, be, of him, your Father, who’s
in heaven. He, both on the evil, good,
his sun to rise on them, what he will cause,
and rain, upon all men, he will make fall,
both on the righteous and unrighteous, all.
Rewarded if you love those who love you?
The tax collectors, even that, they do.
If you’d just greet those people that you know
than others are you doing more, then, how?
That’s the same way the pagans will proceed.
Therefore, you must be perfect just as he
is perfect, is your Father, heavenly.”
T.H. Chalm 