Rhyming Redsong: Matthew 8.5-13 (Jesus heals the centurion’s servant)

When Jesus entered to Capernaum,
for help, came to him, a centurion.
“Lord,” he said, “servant, my, at home now lies,
he’s suff’ring terribly and paralyzed.”
To him said Jesus “Shall I come heal him?”
Replying this way, the centurion:
“Lord, under my roof I do not deserve
to have you come, but only say the word,
my servant then will be healed instantly,
for I myself am ‘neath authority:
I’ve my commanders, soldiers under me.
I tell this one, ‘Go,’ then he goes away,
and that one, ‘Come,’ he comes without delay,
I tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ he obeys.”

When Jesus heard this, he was much amazed.
To all those foll’wing him, this what he said,

“I tell you truly I have never found,
with such great faith, in Is’rael, anyone.
I say to you that many will come from
both East and West, the feast with Abraham,
with Isaac, Jacob, there, to take their place,
in Heaven’s kingdom, but they’ll be displaced,
the subjects of the kingdom thrown outside
into the darkness, from there, they will cry,
their weeping, and their teeth, they’ll gnash and grind.”

Then Jesus said to the centurion,
“Go! Just as you believed, let it be done.”
And at that moment, healed, his servant was.

Rhyming Redsong: Matthew 8.1-4 (Jesus heals a man with leprosy)

When Jesus came down from the mountainside,
large crowds, him, followed. He with leprosy,
a man came and, before him, knelt and said,
“Lord, if you’re willing, you can make me clean.”

He, Jesus, reached his hand out, touched the man.
“I’m willing,” he said. “Be Clean!” Instantly,
of all his leprosy, the man was cleansed.
Then Jesus said to him, “That you don’t, see,
tell anyone. But go now to the priest
and show yourself, the gift Moses commands,
a testimony to them, offered as.

Rhyming Redsong: Matthew 7 (The Sermon on the Mount concludes)

“Do not judge, or you will be judged as well.
For in the same way, this, you, I will tell,
that you judge, then how you will be judged too,
and by that measure, that one that you use,
it will be measured to you. Why do you
look at the speck of sawdust in his eye,
your brother’s and you, no attention, pay,
to what is in your own eye, that, a plank?
You hypocrite, first, from your eye, it, take,
the plank out, and then you will clearly see,
to, from your brother’s eye, the speck, retrieve.

“Don’t give dogs what is sacred; do not heave
your pearls to pigs. If that is what you do,
they’ll likely trample them beneath their hooves,
and turn and tear you, pieces, up into.

“Ask and it will be given unto you;
seek and you’ll find; knock and the door will be,
up, opened to you. For who asks, receives,
will everyone; he finds, the one who seeks;
and opened is the door to one who knocks.

“Which of you, if your son would ask for bread,
will give to him a rocky stone instead?
Or if he asks you for a fish that tastes
good would you rather give to him a snake?
If you, then, though you’re evil, know how to
give to your children gifts you know are good,
how much more will your Father, heavenly,
give good gifts to those asking faithfully!
So in all things, to others, what you do,
what you would also have them do to you,
for this, the Prophets and the Law, subsumes.

“You enter through the narrow gate. For wide,
the gate, broad, to destruction, leads, the road,
and many enter through it. But small is
the gate and narrow is the road that leads
to life, and only find it, e’er, a few.

“Watch out for prophets, false. They come to you
in clothing, sheep’s, but they are deep inside
ferocious wolves. By their fruit, recognize
them, you’ll. Do people, from thornbushes, pick
grapes, or do they pick from the thistles, figs?
Likewise, every good tree bears fruit that’s good,
but a bad tree bears bad fruit, it is true.
A good tree, bad fruit, what it cannot bear,
and a bad tree, good fruit, it cannot bear.
Each tree that does not bear good fruit’s cut down
and to the fire, the place where it is thrown.
Thus, by their fruit, will you, them, recognize.

“Not everyone, to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ who says,
will enter into it, the kingdom, heav’n’s,
but only that one who does his commands,
those of my Father who is up in heav’n.
On that day, many will say this to me,
‘Lord, did we, in your name, speak prophesy,
and in your name, drive demons outwardly,
and miracles, a multiplicity,
in your name we performed?’ I’ll tell them plain,
then, ‘I ne’er knew you. From me, get away,
you evildoers, flee without delay!’

“Therefore, those who hear all these words of mine
and, into practice, puts them, like a wise
man who built his house on the rock. The rain
came down, the streams rose, and the winds, against,
blew and beat that house; yet it did not fall,
because where its foundation was installed:
the rock. But everyone, my words, who hears,
and doesn’t put them into practice is
like a man, foolish who, on the sand, built
his house. The rain came down and filled
the streams, the winds blew and they beat against
that house, and it fell downwards with a crash.”

When Jesus finished saying all these things,
the crowds were, at his teaching, all amazed,
because, as one who had authority,
he taught, not as those legal, scholarly,
professors, Pharisees and Sadducees.

Rhyming Redsong: Matthew 6.19-34 (Don’t store your treasures on earth; don’t worry)

“Don’t, treasures, store up for yourselves on earth,
where vermin will destroy, as well, the moths,
and where thieves will break in and steal that wealth.
But, up, in heav’n store treasures for yourselves,
where neither moths nor vermin will destroy,
where thieves don’t break in and, their thefts, employ.
For that, the place where you, your treasure, store,
is also where your heart is at its core.

“It’s like a lamp, the eye, the body, to.
If your eyes, healthy, your whole body full
of light. But if, unhealthy, are, your eyes,
of darkness, full, your body, whole, comprised.
If then the light within you darkness is
how great is that among all darknesses.

“No one can e’er, two masters, faithful, serve
You’ll either hate the one, the other love,
or to the one, you will, devoted, be,
and you’ll despise the other, how you’ll feel.
You cannot serve both God and money, too.

“So therefore, ‘bout your life, what I tell you,
don’t worry ‘bout it, what you will consume;
about your body, what it is you’ll wear.
Is not life more than food, and, than clothes, more,
the body? Look at those up in the air,
the birds; they do not sow, reap, store away
in barns, but yet your Father, heavenly,
he feeds them. Value, than them, don’t you hold
much more? Can any of you ever add
a single hour, by worry, to your life?

“And why do you, ‘bout clothes, feel worry, strife?
See how the flowers of the field all grow.
They neither labor nor do, spinning, know.
Yet I tell you, not even Solomon
in all his splendor was he dressed like one
of these. If that is how God clothes the grass,
that of the field, today, here, soon to pass,
and thrown into the fire on the day, next,
is it not much more likely, you, he’ll dress–
O you of little faith? So worry, not,
by asking constantly, ‘What shall we eat?’
‘What shall we wear?’ or this, ‘What shall we drink?’
For pagans, too, run after all these things,
and he, your Father, heavenly, knows that
you need them. But seek first his kingdom and
his righteousness, then unto you he’ll add
these things as well. Therefore don’t worry, feel,
about, tomorrow, worry, for itself,
tomorrow will possess it then as well.
Each day, enough of its own trouble, filled.”

Rhyming Redsong: Matthew 6.16-18 (Instructions for fasting)

“When you fast, don’t look somber like they do,
the hypocrites, their faces they construe,
to, others, show, how food, they don’t consume.
What I tell you, for certain this is true:
their full reward already has accrued,
but put oil on your head when you will fast
and wash your face so it’s not obvious
to others that you’re fasting presently,
but only to your Father who’s unseen;
and Father, yours, who sees that secretly
what’s done, for that, rewards you generously.”

Rhyming Redsong: Matthew 6.5-14 (The Lord’s Prayer)

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites,
they love to pray out standing in the streets
and in the synagogues, where others see.
I tell you, their reward have they received
in full. But when you pray, go to your room,
the door closed, to your Father, pray to him,
who is unseen. Your Father, then, who sees
what’s done in secret, he will faithfully
reward you. And don’t keep on babbling
when you pray, like the pagans, for they think
that they’ll be heard because their many words.
Don’t be like them, the Father who is yours
knows what you need, you ask of him, before.

“The way that you should pray, this is how, then:

“‘Our Father, God, your dwelling up in heav’n,
your name be hallowed, and your kingdom come,
on earth as it’s in heav’n, your will be done.
Give us today, just this, our daily bread.
And too forgive us of all them, our debts,
as we, our debtors, we forgive as well.
Into temptation, please, us, don’t propel
but from the evil one deliver us.’

“For if, when others, they, ‘gainst you, transgress,
if you forgive them, what he will express,
forgiveness toward you. But if you do not
forgive them, others, of their sins, he won’t,
your Father, you, your sins, forgive, no doubt.”

Rhyming Redsong: John 20.11-18 (Jesus meets Mary at the tomb)

Now, crying, Mary stood outside the tomb.
As she wept, she bent o’er inside to look
and saw two angels, both were dressed in white,
where Jesus body’d been, there, had their seat,
one at the head, the other at the foot.
They asked her, “Woman, why is it you weep?”
“They’ve taken him, my Lord, away,” said she.
“Where they have taken him I do not know.”
At this she turned around and, Jesus, saw,
there, standing, but she did not realize
that it was Jesus. “Why is it you cry,
dear woman? Who is it you’re looking for?”
She, thinking he was just the gardener,
said “Sir, if you have carried him away
tell me where you’ve put him, and him, I’ll claim.”
That instant, “Mary,” Jesus said to her.
In Aramaic, cried, towards him she turned,
“Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said,
“Do not hold onto me for I’ve not yet
ascended to the Father. Go instead
unto my brothers, and go tell all them,
‘Unto my Father, where I will ascend,
your Father, too, my God, as well, of men.’”
To the disciples, Mary Magdalene
went to them with the news, “The Lord, I’ve seen.”
And she told them he’d said to her these things.

Rhyming Redsong: Matthew 6.1-4

“Of doing your good deeds conspic’uously,
beware, to catch men’s eyes, or you won’t see
rewards from him, your Father, Heavenly.
So when to other people you do good
don’t hire a trumpeter in front of you
to go like those play actors in the streets
and synagogues, ensuring, what they seek,
that men will, them, admire for their good deeds.
They have all their reward they’re to receive.
Don’t let your left hand, when to charity,
know what gifts that your right gives gen’rously
so that your giving, all in secrecy.
Your Father, knows all extant secrets, who,
for your good deeds rewards he’ll give to you.”

Rhyming Redsong: Luke 23:33-43 (The Crucifixion)

When they came to the place that’s called The Skull,
they crucified Him with two criminals,
one on his right, the other on his left.
But Jesus said, “Forgive, please, Father, them;
for they do not know what it is they do.”
And they cast lots, so they’d not tear in two
His garments, to divide amongst themselves.
The people all stood by, looked on as well.
And e’en the rulers sneered at Him and said:
“He, others, saved, now, save Himself, him, let,
if this, the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”
The soldiers also mocked, came up to Him,
some sour wine offered Him with this abuse:
“If you are truly King of them, the Jews,
then save Yourself!” Now there was also writ
above him, an inscription that read, “THIS
IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” One criminal
who, with him, hung, abuse, this at him hurled:
“Aren’t you the Christ? Then rescue us condemned!”
The other criminal, he answered him,
and with these words, he gave as a rebuke:
“Do you not even fear our God, since you’re
’neath condemnation, with the sentence, same?
And we are justly suffering this pain,
indeed, for we’ve received what we deserve;
but this man, ev’ry law has he observed.”

Continuing, these words, he, desp’rate, cried:
“Your kingdom, Jesus, when you realize,
remember me!” How Jesus then replied,
“To you, today, most truly, this, says I:
that you shall be with me in Paradise.”

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.”