Rhyming Redsong: Matthew 10.16-42 (Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples)
“I’m outwards sending you like sheep ‘mongst wolves.
As shrewd as snakes but innocent as doves,
therefore how you should be. Be on your guard;
the local councils, in the synagogues,
you will be handed over to be flogged.
On my account, before them you’ll be brought,
your witness to kings, governors, convey
to them and to the Gentiles. But when they
arrest you, do not worry, what you’ll say
or how to say it. At that time, relayed
to you will be just what to say, for it
won’t be you speaking, you’re a conduit,
and speaking through you will the Spirit be,
that of your Father in the heavenlies.
“A brother will betray a brother to
death, and a child, its father, that, will do;
against their parents, children will rebel
and have them put to death. You, hated, will
be by all men because of me, but saved
is he who stands firm till the end. One place,
when there, you persecuted are, then flee,
another, to. I tell you certainly
you will not finish going through the towns
of Is’rael ‘fore the Son of Man will come.
“Above the teacher is a student, not,
above the master, never, the servant.
It is enough for students, like, to be,
their teachers, and the servants sim’larly
just like their masters. If the house’s head,
Beelzebul is what he has been called,
how much more so, his house’s members, all!
“So, of them, you should never be afraid,
for there’s naught hidden that won’t be revealed,
that will not ever be made known, concealed.
In dark, what I tell you, in daylight, speak;
proclaim what has been whispered in your ear,
out, from the rooftops. Of them, have no fear,
who kill the body but, the soul, can’t kill.
Be rather, of the One, afraid, in hell
who can destroy both body and the soul.
Are not two sparrows for a penny sold?
Yet none of them will ever groundwards fall
outside your Father’s care. And of your head,
its very hairs have all been numberèd.
So I tell you: don’t ever be afraid;
than many sparrows does your worth exceed.
“Before, who, others, will acknowledge me,
acknowledgment to them accordingly.
I’ll give them ‘fore my Father, heavenly.
But who, ‘fore others, will, me, then disown,
before my Father, he who is in heav’n,
I will disown them too. That I have come,
do not suppose, to bring peace to the earth.
I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
For notice how it is I’ve come to turn:
“’a man against his father’s heart does burn,
a daughter, ‘gainst her mother, she is set,
she ‘gainst her who, her husband, did beget.
A man will have them as his enemies,
the members of his household, own, they’ll be.’
“Who, anyone, their father, mother loves
more than me, they cannot be worthy judged
of me; who loves their daughter, son, of me
unworthy, too, if that love would exceed
the love they have within their hearts for me.
Whoever doesn’t take up their own cross
and follow me, of me, is worthy not.
Whoever finds their life will lose it all.
Whoe’er would lose their life for my sake will,
it, find. If anyone would welcome you,
they also welcome me, if that they do,
they welcome me, they welcome the one who
sent me. Whoe’er will give him what’s he’s due,
a prophet, as a prophet, will receive
reward, as good, a prophet would perceive.
If anyone gives even just a cup
of water, cold, to one, these little ones,
of them who’s my disciple, I tell you,
for truly, their reward, they will not lose,
that person who, compassion, what they shew.”
