Crime and Punishment chapter XII
Then one of the judges of the city stood forth and said, "Speak to us of Crime and Punishment."
And he answered saying:
It is when your spirit goes wandering upon the wind,
That you, alone and unguarded, commit a wrong unto others and therefore unto yourself.
And for that wrong committed must you knock and wait a while unheeded at the gate of the blessed.
Like the ocean is your god-self;
It remains for ever undefiled.
And like the ether it lifts but the winged.
Even like the sun is your god-self;
It knows not the ways of the mole nor seeks it the holes of the serpent.
But your god-self does not dwell alone in your being.
Much in you is still man, and much in you is not yet man,
But a shapeless pigmy that walks asleep in the mist searching for its own awakening.
And of the man in you would I now speak.
For it is he and not your god-self nor the pigmy in the mist, that knows crime and the punishment of crime.
Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world.
But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you,
So the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also.
And as a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree,
So the wrong-doer cannot do wrong without the hidden will of you all.
Like a procession you walk together towards your god-self.
You are the way and the wayfarers.
And when one of you falls down he falls for those behind him, a caution against the stumbling stone.
Ay, and he falls for those ahead of him, who though faster and surer of foot, yet removed not the stumbling stone.
And this also, though the word lie heavy upon your hearts:
The murdered is not unaccountable for his own murder,
And the robbed is not blameless in being robbed.
The righteous is not innocent of the deeds of the wicked,
And the white-handed is not clean in the doings of the felon.
Yea, the guilty is oftentimes the victim of the injured,
And still more often the condemned is the burden-bearer for the guiltless and unblamed.
You cannot separate the just from the unjust and the good from the wicked;
For they stand together before the face of the sun even as the black thread and the white are woven together.
And when the black thread breaks, the weaver shall look into the whole cloth, and he shall examine the loom also.
If any of you would bring judgment the unfaithful wife,
Let him also weight the heart of her husband in scales, and measure his soul with measurements.
And let him who would lash the offender look unto the spirit of the offended.
And if any of you would punish in the name of righteousness and lay the ax unto the evil tree, let him see to its roots;
And verily he will find the roots of the good and the bad, the fruitful and the fruitless, all entwined together in the silent heart of the earth.
And you judges who would be just,
What judgment pronounce you upon him who though honest in the flesh yet is a thief in spirit?
What penalty lay you upon him who slays in the flesh yet is himself slain in the spirit?
And how prosecute you him who in action is a deceiver and an oppressor,
Yet who also is aggrieved and outraged?
And how shall you punish those whose remorse is already greater than their misdeeds?
Is not remorse the justice which is administered by that very law which you would fain serve?
Yet you cannot lay remorse upon the innocent nor lift it from the heart of the guilty.
Unbidden shall it call in the night, that men may wake and gaze upon themselves.
And you who would understand justice, how shall you unless you look upon all deeds in the fullness of light?
Only then shall you know that the erect and the fallen are but one man standing in twilight between the night of his pigmy-self and the day of his god-self,
And that the corner-stone of the temple is not higher than the lowest stone in its foundation.
poem by Khalil Gibran
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Related quotes
Mistaken Identity
Undercover cop car
Came screeching to a halt
Body lying on the ground
Must be someones fault
Circumstantial evidence
Seemed to point her way
Her right to remain silent
Was all she heard them say
Blue dress, blue eyes
Blonde hair, about five foot nine
Wrong place, wrong time
Wrong face, wrong crime
(chorus):
Mistaken identity
Could happen to you or to me
Mistaken identity
Mistaken identity
Could happen to you or to me
Mistaken identity
Mistaken identity
(I didnt do it, no, I didnt do it)
No money for a lawyer
To defend her case
Standing in the line-up
Tears rolling down her face
No one cared to listen
Someone had to take the heat
Sometimes theres no justice
When youre a victim of the street
Wrong place, wrong time
Wrong face, wrong crime (x4)
(chorus):
Tu ut tu tu tu...tu ut tut tu tu
They didnt even say
Im sorry
Tried to put her away
In a hurry
Dont make her pay the price
Shes not guilty
(guilty)
For someone elses crime
Set her free
(set her free)
I didnt
I didnt
I didnt do it no (x4)
(chorus out)
song performed by by Donna Summer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Joy and Sorrow chapter VIII
Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."
And he answered:
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.
poem by Khalil Gibran
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The Spirit Is Willing
The Holy Spirit inside is willing, through The Lord’s Holy filling,
But our flesh can be weak, even when we’re humble and meek.
When fleshly desires are strong, inner thoughts may be wrong,
Which leads many hearts to stray, from The Lord’s narrow way.
It is that quiet inner voice, that guards my thoughts and choice,
This, as I am confronted with, those daily choices on how I live,
In a world that opposes light, that preaches wrong is really right,
Thinking that’s so contrary to, the Spirit Christ gave me and you.
Although the Spirit lives within, a choice is made by us not Him,
And I can reject His gentle plea, thinking not of Christ, only me.
With a gentleness from within, He warns hearts to flee from sin,
Guiding us through The Light, back to the way we know is right.
So that spiritual battle inside, a believer’s heart can’t be denied,
As sin crouches at every door, to hinder our walk with The Lord.
Even as believers go astray, God’s Spirit to our hearts will say,
This is not the way to go, from that Truth we’ve come to know.
But as the battle stirs deep inside, The Spirit continues to abide,
As the battle rages, and it will, we need to remain quiet and still.
For He inside me’s greater than, the evil cunning of wicked men,
And only He fills me with peace, that from God will never cease.
Pleasure XXIV
Then a hermit, who visited the city once a year, came forth and said, "Speak to us of Pleasure."
And he answered, saying:
Pleasure is a freedom song,
But it is not freedom.
It is the blossoming of your desires,
But it is not their fruit.
It is a depth calling unto a height,
But it is not the deep nor the high.
It is the caged taking wing,
But it is not space encompassed.
Ay, in very truth, pleasure is a freedom-song.
And I fain would have you sing it with fullness of heart; yet I would not have you lose your hearts in the singing.
Some of your youth seek pleasure as if it were all, and they are judged and rebuked.
I would not judge nor rebuke them. I would have them seek.
For they shall find pleasure, but not her alone:
Seven are her sisters, and the least of them is more beautiful than pleasure.
Have you not heard of the man who was digging in the earth for roots and found a treasure?
And some of your elders remember pleasures with regret like wrongs committed in drunkenness.
But regret is the beclouding of the mind and not its chastisement.
They should remember their pleasures with gratitude, as they would the harvest of a summer.
Yet if it comforts them to regret, let them be comforted.
And there are among you those who are neither young to seek nor old to remember;
And in their fear of seeking and remembering they shun all pleasures, lest they neglect the spirit or offend against it.
But even in their foregoing is their pleasure.
And thus they too find a treasure though they dig for roots with quivering hands.
But tell me, who is he that can offend the spirit?
Shall the nightingale offend the stillness of the night, or the firefly the stars?
And shall your flame or your smoke burden the wind?
Think you the spirit is a still pool which you can trouble with a staff?
Oftentimes in denying yourself pleasure you do but store the desire in the recesses of your being.
Who knows but that which seems omitted today, waits for tomorrow?
Even your body knows its heritage and its rightful need and will not be deceived.
And your body is the harp of your soul,
And it is yours to bring forth sweet music from it or confused sounds.
And now you ask in your heart, "How shall we distinguish that which is good in pleasure from that which is not good?"
Go to your fields and your gardens, and you shall learn that it is the pleasure of the bee to gather honey of the flower,
But it is also the pleasure of the flower to yield its honey to the bee.
For to the bee a flower is a fountain of life,
And to the flower a bee is a messenger of love,
And to both, bee and flower, the giving and the receiving of pleasure is a need and an ecstasy.
People of Orphalese, be in your pleasures like the flowers and the bees.
poem by Khalil Gibran
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Bible Stories: Job (Chapter XXXIV)
‘O men of wisdom, hear me speak!
O men of knowledge, watch me seek,
The truth for ourselves, what is right,
And learn what’s good with good fore-sight! ’
For, Job maintains, he’s innocent,
And God took all his due, decent;
What kind of man is Job, matters?
He drinks blasphemies like waters.
He lives in evil company,
And knows men wicked, so many!
Job says it profits man nothing,
When he does things to God, pleasing.
But God is far from wickedness;
He lives in only righteousness;
He corrects men with misconduct,
And reminds them of their product!
God cannot act so wickedly;
Justice is loved by Almighty;
Who gave him power over earth?
Who made all things and gave each, birth?
If God takes off man’s spirit back,
And breath divine, all men should lack,
Perish must all together fast,
And turn to dust of present / past!
Hear this, O Job, do it now please!
‘To condemn the Supreme One, Cease! ’
’Tis man who goes back to earth’s dust!
Could God of justice, be unjust?
Who tells a king, he is worthless?
Who tells nobles, they are ruthless?
God favors neither rich nor poor,
For all things were by His Hands, sure!
Each one of them in moments dies;
The powerful, he cuts to size;
His eyes on man’s ways, always stays;
He watches tenderly his days!
Hide evil can’t in darkness dense;
God doesn’t allow any nonsense;
The work of each one, God discerns;
At night, to crush him, He then turns!
He tells no man when comes Judgment;
He surprises with punishment;
The mighty get replaced instead,
Because they cared not for God-head.
And turned away from God-told ways,
And caused the poor, their cries, to raise;
God hears the pleas of afflicted;
The mighty get thus indicted.
When God stays calm, who can question?
If God hides face, who dare condemn?
If man repents, then God relents;
To man’s wishes, God never bends!
God need not punish, when man wants;
God need not care for his raves / rants;
God’s doings, man understands not;
To accept His verdicts, man ought!
The words of Job are without sense;
He speaks without intelligence;
He should not add to sin, non-sense;
Let him be tried to limits, hence.
poem by John Celes
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Bible Stories: Job (Chapter IX)
Then Job said, ‘I know truth is so.
But can man justify with God?
By arguments, he can’t win God;
God’s wise in heart and almighty.’
Who dares the Lord and be unscathed?
God moves mountains before we know;
God overturns them in anger!
He shakes the earth out of her place.
Pillars beneath tremble thereof;
He orders sun and it doesn’t rise;
He seals up stars, stretching heavens;
He treads upon crests of sea-waves;
He made the Bear, Orion, Pleiades,
And constellations of the south;
He does great things ‘’yond reckoning’
He goes by me, I see Him not.
He passes by, I perceive not;
Should He seize me, who can ask why?
Who dare ask him, what do You do?
If God relents not, who can ask?
The proud helpers stoop under Him;
How shall I answer him much less?
Or enter into argument?
Though I be right, I couldn’t answer.
But make my supplication plea;
Had I called Him and He answered;
I couldn’t believe He’d heard my voice;
For, tempest-like, He o’er-whelms me.
He multiples my wounds sans cause;
He won’t wish me to take my breath,
But fills me with bitterness, griefs;
In strength, He’s strong and Almighty.
If I am right, I still can’t prove;
In Judgment, who can dare question?
If right, my mouth shall condemn me;
If innocent, He proves me wrong;
If perfect ev’n, yet, I wouldn’t know;
And then I would despise my life;
He destroys righteous and those wrong;
If scourge suddenly slays, He laughs;
He gives the earth to wicked hands;
He covers faces of judges;
My days are swifter than a post;
They flee away sans happiness.
Like eagle that hastens to prey;
If I can forget my complaint,
I’ll be less sad and in more cheer;
I am afraid of all my pains.
If I be washed with snow-water
And cleanse my hands so clean with lye,
Yet, you would plunge me in the ditch
And my own clothes shall abhor me;
For, He is not a man like me,
That I should answer him better,
And should we come in judgment both,
There’s no arbiter to deal alike!
I know I’m held not innocent;
If I’m wicked, why strive in vain?
O let Him take His rod from me,
And let His fear not frighten me;
So that, I may speak without fear,
But this is not the case with me.
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Love Is A Crime
Oooh Yeah
Chicago
If love is a crime baby
I'd do my time
Whether it's wrong or right
You can sentence me to life
If love is a crime baby
I'd do my time
Whether it's wrong or right
You can sentence me
Sentence me to life
Some might say I'm guilty of loving the first degree
If the jury wants to lock me up and throw away the key
There's no greater punishment than what I face inside
Won't tamper with the evidence cause there's nothing to hide
(He lives inside my heart)
(I'm in the middle too)
I'm in the middle too
(You never had a clue)
Unless you felt it too
(If love is a crime) baby
I'd do my time
(Whether it's wrong or right)
(You can) sentence me
Sentence me to life
(If love is a crime) baby
I'd do my time
(Whether it's wrong or right)
You can sentence me
Sentence me to life
Better tell the truth, just let me plead my case
The thief who stole my heart from me I couldn't let escape
He's my only alibi, but I won't drop a dime
So how can I give up to you, my partner in crime
(He lives inside) my heart
(I'm in the middle too)
Ooh yeah yeah
(You never had a clue)
Unless you felt it too
(If love is a crime) baby
I'd do my time
Whether it's wrong or right
You can sentence me
Sentence me to life
(If love is a crime) baby
I'd do my time
Whether it's wrong or right
You can sentence me
(Sentence me to life)
You can take away my freedom
But you can't take my love from me
I won't die a lonely prisoner
'Cause my heart will set me free
Oooh ooh yeah
Whooh!
Chicago
-acapo
song performed by by Anastacia
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Benefits Of His Presence
I will seek you with my whole heart
And learn to walk in your ways
I will seek you with my whole heart
And follow you all of my days
I love your word and your Spirit too
And I will praise you with all of my heart
Without you I would be forsaken and lost
I needed you right from the start
With my whole heart I cry to thee
Keep me close let us not be apart
Speak to me oh Spirit of God
Your Word is hidden in my heart
I rejoice in the Lord and in all of your ways
You have made the crooked paths straight
You lead me in the way of righteousness
And on your word and your Spirit I shall wait
You are the ground upon which I stand
Open my eyes that I may see
Your glory and splendor, your Spirit and truth
You are the Word who has set me free
You are the way and the truth and you are my life
Oh Lord do not put me to shame
My heart's desire is to follow you
And to glorify your precious name
Oh keep my eyes from worthless things
May they only ever see you
May I walk in the path that you have set
And praise you in all that I do
I will not be ashamed of the Gospel
It's the power of God to salvation
I will speak of you before mighty kings
And the Peoples of every nation
My hope is in the Lord my God
For your word has given me life
Your song comes to me in the middle of the night
As a bridegroom comes to His wife
The earth oh Lord is full of your mercy
And you have kept me from all harm
I will walk with my brothers who fear you
And you shall keep us from all alarm
In the midst of my many afflictions
I have learned from the error of my ways
I am drawn by your tender mercies
And they follow me all of my days
I delight in the your word that dwells in me
And I know I shall not be alone
For you dwell in the midst of a brand new heart
A heart of flesh and not of stone
My heart hungers for your presence oh Lord
I walk through a dry weary land
Yet through famine and drought my hope is in you
And suddenly before you I stand!
And the enemy that has sought to destroy me
And take advantage of my perilous state
Did not reckon on the faithful loving-kindness
Of my God who'll not leave me to my fate
You are beyond all comprehension
And we breathe because you exist
You sustain the heavens and the earth below
Righteousness and peace they have kissed
My strong desire is to do thy will
And my soul thirsts to please you oh Lord
I am hungry to know even more of you
It's so sweet to hear your word
Your word is a lamp unto my feet
And it keeps me on the road ahead
And though I am tempted to stray from it
It lights up the path I must tread
Every word that proceeds from my precious Lord
Is life and salvation to me
Keep me close that I may hear you Lord
Keep me close so I may be free
This Word that burns at the center of my heart
Was written by you for me
This strong desire that has ruined me for life
Makes me desperately want to see
To see you high and lifted up
Where the train of your robe fills the temple
I fall down in fear at this terrible sight
Yet I find you so sweet and gentle
Your mercy flows like the river wide
And your love is as deep as the sea
And of your forgiveness there is no end
From Calvary it flows eternally
And rivers of water run down from my eyes
For men have rejected the Son
Yet despite their rejections we shall rejoice
For the victory on Calvary won
I rise before the breaking of dawn
In the wee small hours of the morning
I search for you with all of my heart
And for the world my heart is in mourning
They will not hear, they refuse to listen
They are stubborn in al of their ways
Yet your children will rejoice with all of their hearts
And follow you all of their days
This heart, this heart you have given to me
Is the greatest treasure of all
And your words of love are written on this heart
So that I may never fall
For I was fallen and dead in my sin
Just like Lazarus, dead in the cave
Yet you came to me, right where I was
And you were mighty to save
Arise my child come forth and live
I speak to your heart of stone
Roll away, roll away, and now become flesh
Walk with me and you'll never walk alone
And so it was, the promise fulfilled
All the prophets had longed to see
This heart of flesh, the law fulfilled
The Christ that has set me free
poem by Frank McEleny
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Psalm 119
I will seek you with my whole heart
And learn to walk in your ways
I will seek you with my whole heart
And follow you all of my days
I love your word and your Spirit too
And I will praise you with all of my heart
Without you I would be forsaken and lost
I needed you right from the start
With my whole heart I cry to thee
Keep me close let us not be apart
Speak to me oh Spirit of God
Your Word is hidden in my heart
I rejoice in the Lord and in all of your ways
You have made the crooked paths straight
You lead me in the way of righteousness
And on your word and your Spirit I shall wait
You are the ground upon which I stand
Open my eyes that I may see
Your glory and splendor, your Spirit and truth
You are the Word who has set me free
You are the way and the truth and you are my life
Oh Lord do not put me to shame
My heart's desire is to follow you
And to glorify your precious name
Oh keep my eyes from worthless things
May they only ever see you
May I walk in the path that you have set for me
And praise you in all that I do
I will not be ashamed of the Gospel
It's the power of God to salvation
I will speak of you before mighty kings
And the Peoples of every nation
My hope is in the Lord my God
For your word has given me life
Your song comes to me in the middle of the night
As a bridegroom comes to His wife
The earth oh Lord is full of your mercy
And in that mercy you have kept me from harm
I will walk with my brothers who fear you
And you shall keep us from all alarm
In the midst of my many afflictions
I have learned from the error of my ways
I am drawn by your tender mercies
And they follow me all of my days
I delight in your word that dwells in me
And I know I shall not be alone
For you dwell in the midst of a brand new heart
A heart of flesh and not one of stone
My heart hungers for your presence oh Lord
I walk through a dry weary land
Yet through famine and drought my hope is in you
And suddenly before you I stand!
And the enemy that has sought to destroy me
And take advantage of my perilous state
Did not reckon on the faithful loving-kindness
Of my God who'll not leave me to my fate
You are beyond all comprehension
And we breathe because you exist
You sustain the heavens and the earth below
Righteousness and peace they have kissed
My strong desire is to do thy will
And my soul thirsts to please you oh Lord
I am hungry to know even more of you
It's so sweet to hear your word
Your word is a lamp unto my feet
And it keeps me on the road ahead
And though I am tempted to stray from it
It lights up the path I must tread
Every word that proceeds from my precious Lord
Is life and salvation to me
Keep me close that I may hear you Lord
Keep me close so I may be free
This Word that burns at the center of my heart
Was written by you for me
This strong desire that has ruined me for life
Makes me desperately want to see
To see you high and lifted up
Where the train of your robe fills the temple
I fall down in fear at this terrible sight
Yet I find you so sweet and gentle
Your mercy flows like the river wide
And your love is as deep as the sea
And of your forgiveness there is no end
From Calvary it flows eternally
And rivers of water run down from my eyes
For men have rejected the Son
Yet despite their rejections we shall rejoice
For the victory on Calvary won
I rise before the breaking of the dawn
In the wee small hours of the morning
I search for you with all of my heart
And for the world my heart is in mourning
They will not hear, they refuse to listen
They are stubborn in all of their ways
Yet your children will rejoice with all of their hearts
And follow you all of their days
This heart, this heart you have given to me
Is the greatest treasure of all
And your words of love are written on this heart
So that I may never fall
For I was fallen and dead in my sin
Just like Lazarus, dead in the cave
Yet you came to me, right where I was
And you were mighty to save
Arise my child come forth and live
I speak to your heart of stone
Roll away, roll away, and now become flesh
Walk with me and you'll never walk alone
And so it was, the promise fulfilled
All the prophets had longed to see
This heart of flesh, the law fulfilled
The Christ that has set me free
poem by Frank McEleny
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Bible in Poetry: James 2
Favoritism Forbidden:
1 My brothers, then as believers
In our Lord Savior Jesus Christ,
Do not show favoritism.
2 Suppose a man attired fine,
Comes to your meeting wearing rich
Clothes and gold ring and a poor man
In shabby clothes also walks in,
3 If you show special attention
To man in fine clothes and do say,
'Here is a good seat for you, Sir',
But tell the poor man, 'You stand there'
Or 'Sit on the floor by my feet, '
4 Have you not discriminated,
Among yourselves and turned judges,
With evil thoughts and unfairness?
5 O listen, dear brothers, ‘Hasn’t God
Chosen those poor in eyes of world,
To be the richer ones in faith,
And inherit God’s kingdom then,
As promised to those who love Him?
6 But you have insulted the poor.
Is not the rich who exploit you?
Aren’t they who drag you to the court?
7Aren’t they not ones who slander most
The noble name of God, the Lord?
8 If you follow the royal law,
That’s found in Holy Scripture well,
'You love your neighbor as yourself, '
Then, you are doing the right thing.
9 But if you show favoritism,
You sin and will be convicted,
By law of land as lawbreakers.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law,
And stumbles yet at just one point,
Is guilty of breaking it all.
11 'Do not commit adultery, '
Also it is said, 'Don’t murder.'
If you don’t commit adultery,
But do commit then murder still,
You have become a lawbreaker.
12 So speak and act as those who are,
Going to be judged by the law.
That gives the freedom to all men,
13 Because the judgment sans mercy,
Will be then shown to anyone,
Who hasn’t been merciful to men.
So mercy triumphs o’er judgment!
Faith and Deeds:
14 What good is it, my brothers dear,
If man who claims to have good faith,
But has no deeds? Can faith save him?
15 Suppose a brother or sister
Is without clothes and daily food,
16 If one of you says to him/ her,
'I wish you well; keep warm, well-fed, '
But does nothing about their needs,
What good is it by asking then?
17 Similarly, faith by itself,
Without any action, is dead.
18 But one will say, 'You’ve faith; I’ve deeds.'
Show me your faith without good deeds;
I’ll show my faith by what I do.
19 Then you believe there is one God.
The demons too believe like that.
20 You foolish man, do you want facts
That faith without deeds is useless?
21 Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham,
Considered righteous for what
He did, when he offered his son
Isaac upon the altar then?
22 His faith and actions worked as one;
His faith was made whole by his deed.
23And scripture was fulfilled that says,
'For, Abraham believed in God,
And credited with righteousness, '
And he was called God's beloved friend.
24 You see a person justified
By what he does, not faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not Rahab
The prostitute turned righteous,
For what she did when she lodged spies,
And sent them off another way?
26 Just as the body sans spirit
Is dead, so’s faith without good deeds.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 7-9-2007
poem by John Celes
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Kill In The Spirit World
Theres something wrong theres a chill in the air
And the blood in my veins running colder
The eastern sky is beginning to silver
And the words that you speak start to falter
The seal is broken, the oath has been crossed
In the house of the dead theres a taker
Some say that this is the ultimate sin
When the spirit world turns to the alter
Theres been a kill in the spirit world
Theres been a kill in the spirit world
Behold the dead clutching at fading hands, out of reach forever
In glory die calls the voice of the void
Your assassin has cursed every spectre
The seal is broken, the oath has been crossed
And the house of the dead seeks a master
Stretching every muscle, I wait for the end
And a kiss on the wind whispers murder, murder
Theres been a kill in the spirit world
Theres been a kill in the spirit world
When heaven is closer, its pleasure and pain
Kill in the spirit world
Did you see another in black
Is the blood in your veins running colder
If you did then theres no turning back
As the spirit world turns to the alter
The seal is broken, the oath has been crossed
And the house of the dead seeks the master
Stretching every muscle, I wait for the end
And a kiss on the wind whispers murder, murder
Theres been a kill in the spirit world
Theres been a kill in the spirit world
Oh here it comes, oh no
The seal is broken, the eastern sky is beginning to silver
Theres something wrong, theres a chill in the air
I feel the evil, I feel the evil
Somebody whispers murder
A kiss on the wind whispers murder
song performed by by Black Sabbath
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Forgiving The Unforgivable.
I held my peace and sung a song,
that echoed through the righteous hall,
my right, my truth, all put to wrong!
As judgment fine had met the pall.
How can there be a better way,
to tell the world of foul play,
than those, your words, that captivate,
and that, my looks, you separate;
your lies, your tricks, my punishment!
In years to come a sure lament;
but life shall only last its days,
until the sun these men does gaze;
then deeds shall bind our spirits such,
would implore it the heaven's touch,
so again shall meet face to face,
when shattered is the time and space,
there I shall pardon and forgive,
as not in this dimension live,
and from this burden be relieved,
that had a trusting friend deceived,
and yes, I have just this to say,
that friends and foes alike decay,
but on that day, you I shall see,
as an error of mortality.
I hold my peace and sing this song,
That echoes through the righteous hall,
My right, my truth, all put to wrong!
as judgment fine has met the pall.
R.N.Khan, © 2012
poem by Raja Nosherwan
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To Rulers and Judges
He's risen - Highest God - to do the judgment, fair,
Of the earthly ones in their whole band;
How long - he sad - how long will you else spare
The unjust and wicked people in your land.
Your sacred duty is to make support for laws,
To make no favor to the strongest ones,
To leave the widows and orphans in your borders
Without help and safety not once.
To save the innocent from all that harm and wrong is,
To give good shelter to unhappy folks,
To shield the weak from evil of the strongest,
To drew the poor from their heavy bonds.
They don't hear the words! They see and they don't know
Their eyes are covered with a veil of bribes and wealth,
The black injustice shakes the havens' dome,
And wicked deeds convulse the whole earth.
I thought, kings, you are strong as strong the gods of heavens,
And nobody else can judge you on the earth,
But you, like I, live in the yoke of passions,
And, just like I'm , are serfs of the Lord Death.
And you shall fall like leafs fall, that are withered,
From wet and bare trees by the autumnal sky!
And you will die, the great and wealthy caesar,
Just like your poorest slave will die!
Arise, at last, O God! God of the just and purest!
Hark to the prayers they recall with for your grace:
Come, judge, chastise the wicked worldly rulers,
And be the only king on Haven and the earth.
poem by Gavril Romanovich Derzhavin
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She Stands By Her Son
He is a serial killer and awful things he has done
But his mother says he is not guilty and she stands by her son
A jury found him guilty but with their verdict she does not agree
She says my son is innocent i believe what he told me
That he did not murder those women the jury got it wrong
For him forty years in prison is forty years too long
For one completely innocent of any serious crime
The jury they erred badly they got it wrong this time
Though human blood and hair found on the bodies of the victims of foul play
According to the lab technicians did match his D N A
But there must have been a mix up and grieved am i to say
that for the crimes of some evil one my innocent son must pay
And all others say he is guilty she is the only one
To say that he is innocent she won't forsake her son.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Guilty
Gus kahn / harry akst / richard whiting
Is it a sin, is it a crime
Loving you dear like I do
If its a crime, then, Im guilty
Guilty of loving you
Maybe Im wrong dreaming of you
Dreaming the lonely night thru
If its a crime, then, Im guilty
Guilty of dreaming of you
What can I do?
What can I say?
After Ive taken the blame
You say, youre through
Youll go your way
But Ill always feel just the same
Maybe, Im right, maybe Im wrong
Loving you dear like I do
If its a crime, then, Im guilty
Guilty of loving you
song performed by by Billie Holiday
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Set In Stone
There alive, die as I space you.
That's where I cease the spell.
The devil loves the pain.
Certain victims breath the pain.
Buried, weak the soul.
No more to you.
You're set in stone.
Bow at your feeds and thoughts.
Cold winter, freezing solid with your fights fooling where.
Hear voices say.
Tall toys gone.
Fell aside with heaps of fear.
Dreaded calls springs in year.
One attacks himself from them.
Feel your own spirit.
Spirit say.
Timeout your life.
What's wrong? Your wrong.
We're set in stone.
We're set in stone.
Strike of thirst, in hell its sought.
By devil night we bought.
Heaps of pain, tools of war.
Towards my painful ever sore.
We're set in stoneX4
Over by the trees behind.
Set in ourselves we find.
Power builds, where it hurts.
Come.
song performed by by Obituary
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Forsaken
A gathering burst of a darkened sky
A standing tree in a deserted aisle
A silent stream in a screaming soul
A lonesome man on the lonely tree
The sun resigns and the moon declines
A star wipes away a tear as another falls
A grieving father with a mouth wide shut
A shouting out of a broken heart
A bended will to a noble plan
An undeserving man with the killing nail
A piercing through his mortal sides
The world's weight on a shoulder sagged
The guiltiest frame of a triple stand
Innocent indeed of all charges laid
Guilty indeed of the sins of the whole
wide world
I did them not but for you I did
My heart is broken, your sins are mine
What have you done? , I take the blame
Oh, this is hard, where's God, my dad
My friends they've left, no one's around
I'm a quiet man but on this heavy night
I'd disturb the peace for pain's own sake
'My father, my father why have you
forsaken me! ! ! '
The one who spoke the world into being
Is silent now, what is going on?
Dad, it's me, your only son
Undo me now, this is too much
The skies they weep, the angels too
My spirit gives in to a higher will
A silent night. A night for you.
To the thief, the whore, outcasts alike
To the mourning, the lonely, and failing
ones
To the orphan and the poor alike
To all that have fallen short of glory's
sun
And all that darkness has keenly torn
On those nights you cry alone
And those days you have no friend
I went through this to know your pain
To heal your pain and be your friend
I see you through the eyes of love
The Love that would give up his only son
Before he'd ever give up on you
I will never leave you, nor ever can
forsake you
I Love You.
poem by Jenim Dibie
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The Victim
Between right and wrong
Black and white
War and peace
Perpetrators and victims
Passive aggressive
She is always the victim
He is always the victim
They say they are always right
Every relationship ends with being the victim
The abused one, the controlled one
Totally black and white
They hire psychologists to reinforce their game
Never have to take responsibility
They are always the clear good one
They never really stare into the mirror
Their own arrogance is never looked at
Their own violence is covered
Sexual manipulation
Black and white
Right and wrong
Gossip and slander
Poor little innocent victim
How easy we demonize one another
How easy we take the role of the good guy
How easy we make everything black and white
Make everything completely wrong and right
Pull people into our charade
Stereotype and profile
Sure some people really are extreme
Yes, some people belong in prison
But so many times we play the victim
We make the other person BAD
We do not forgive or let go
We bring our baggage into all our relationships
We profile
We play the wronged person to the hilt
We make the other person EVIL
We make ourselves GOOD
No shades of gray, no soul searching
No reality and we go looking for perfect people
No forgiveness or negotiation and compromise
We are the victim! We are completely innocent
I broke up again he abused me
What’s that now 6 in a row?
Yes! And I am so sweet and innocent
poem by Joseph Narusiewicz
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Our Mat
It came from the prison this morning,
Close-twisted, neat-lettered, and flat;
It lies the hall doorway adorning,
A very good style of a mat.
Prison-made! how the spirit is moven
As we think of its story of dread --
What wiles of the wicked are woven
And spun in its intricate thread!
The letters are new, neat and nobby,
Suggesting a masterly hand --
Was it Sikes, who half-murdered the bobby,
That put the neat D on the "and"?
Some banker found guilty of laches --
It's always called laches, you know --
Had Holt any hand in those Hs?
Did Bertrand illumine that O?
That T has a look of the gallows,
That A's a triangle, I guess;
Was it one of the Mount Rennie fellows
Who twisted the strands of the S?
Was it made by some "highly connected",
Who is doing his spell "on his head",
Or some wretched woman detected
In stealing her children some bread?
Does it speak of a bitter repentance
For the crime that so easily came?
Of the wearisome length of the sentence,
Of the sin, and the sorrow, and shame?
A mat! I should call it a sermon
On sin, to all sinners addressed;
It would take a keen judge to determine
Whether writer or reader is best.
Though the doorway be hard as a pavestone,
I rather would use it than that --
I'd as soon wipe my boots on a gravestone,
As I would on that Darlinghurst mat!
poem by Andrew Barton Paterson
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Bible in Poetry: Gospel of St. Peter 1 (Chapter 2)
So, rid yourselves of malice, guile,
Hypocrisy, slander, envy;
Like newborns crave for spiritual milk,
That’s pure and grow in salvation,
Now that, you’ve tasted, Lord is good!
The Living Stone and a Chosen People:
As you embrace the living Stone that’s Him-
Men-rejected, God-chosen and precious,
You too are being made a house,
Of holy priesthood, spiritual,
To offer sacrifices liked by God,
The Father, through His Son, Jesus,
For, Scripture says,
To those who do believe:
‘Behold, I lay a stone in Zion, then,
A chosen and most-precious cornerstone,
And whoev’r trusts in Him,
Will ne’er be put to shame! ’
To those who don’t believe:
‘The stone rejected by the builders then,
Has turned to be just a capstone,
A stone that makes men to stumble,
A rock that makes some men to fall;
They stumble for disobedience
Of word, for which they were destined! ’
‘For royal priesthood, you’re chosen,
A holy nation loved by God,
To praise Him who had called you out
Of darkness, to His lit abode.
Once not people but now people of God,
Once not shown mercy but now you have been! ’
‘I urge you therefore, my dear friends,
As strangers, aliens in this world,
To stay away from sin’s desires,
That war against your soul on earth;
Among the pagans, live good lives,
So that, although, they accuse you,
But seeing your good deeds of life,
They glorify God when He comes! ’
Submission to Rulers and Masters:
‘Submit yourselves to higher-ups
Among men for the sake of God,
To supreme ones like kings and queens,
Or governors who’re sent by them,
To punish wrong-doers on earth,
And commend those who do aright.’
‘’Tis will of God by doing good,
You silence talk of foolish men,
You live afree but don’t misuse,
Your freedom to hide your evil,
Live like a servant true of God.
Show proper respect to brethren,
Love brotherhood of believers;
Honor the king but fear the Lord! ’
‘As slaves, submit to masters all,
Both good and bad; give due respect,
For, if a man should bear his pain
Of unjust suffering for God,
It’s most commendable to Him.’
‘If you suffer for doing wrong,
Endure the beating for ’tis fair;
But if you suffer for your good deeds,
Endure it for the love of God;
To this end you were called because
Christ suffered for your sake and wished,
You follow Him in his foot-steps! ’
Yet, Christ sinned not of any kind
And no deceit came from His mouth,
And when they hurled insults at Him,
He ne’er retaliated at all,
Nor threatened them, who caused Him pain,
And suffered without reason then.
He entrusted to Him, the Judge,
Instead, who judges most fairly,
He bore our sins on His body,
While nailed upon the wooden tree,
So that we might die for our sins,
And live for righteousness always,
For by His wounds, you were all healed,
And you were like sheep gone astray,
But now returned to Good Shepherd-
One overseer of all your souls! ’
(6-20-2007)
poem by John Celes
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