Matthew Chapter Five Poem by Day Williams

1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on
A mountainside and sat down. His disciples
Came up to him,2 and he began to teach

Them, saying: 3 "Happy are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is heaven's kingdom.4 Happy are
The mourners, for they will be comforted.

5 The meek are happy, for the world belongs
To them.6 Happy are those who thirst and hunger
For righteousness, for they'll be satisfied.

7 The merciful are happy; they'll be shown
Mercy.8 The pure in heart are happy; they'll
See God.9 Happy are the peacemakers, for

They will be called the sons of God.10 Happy
Are those persecuted for righteousness,
For theirs is heaven's kingdom,11 and what

Happiness will be yours when people blame
You, ill-treat you and falsely say all kinds
Of evil things about you for my sake.

12 Rejoice and, yes, be glad, for your reward
In heaven is magnificent, because
In the same way they persecuted prophets

Before you.13 You are the earth's salt. But if
The salt should lose its saltiness, how can
It be made salty once again? It is

No longer good for anything, except
To be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 You're the world's light. A city on a hill

Cannot be hidden,15 nor do people light
A lamp and put it underneath a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it

Gives light to everyone within the house.
16 Let your light shine like that in men's sight. Let
Them see good things you do and praise
your Father

In heaven.17 Do not think that I have come
To nullify the Law or Prophets- no,
I have come to fulfill them.18 I tell you

The truth, ‘til earth and heaven disappear,
The Law won't lose a single dot or comma
Until its purpose is fulfilled.19 The one

Who breaks the least of these commands and teaches
Others to do the same will be called least
In heaven's kingdom, but whoever teaches

And practices them will be eminent
In heaven's kingdom,20 for I tell you that
Unless your righteousness surpasses that

Of Scribes and Pharisees, you won't go in
To heaven's kingdom.21 You have heard that it
Said to the people in the old days, ‘Do

Not murder; anyone who murders will
Stand trial; ' 22 but I tell you that anyone
Who's angry with his brother must stand on

Trial. Again, whoever calls his friend
An idiot must go before the court
And anyone who looks down on his friend

Will be in danger of the fire of hell,
23 And so, if you are offering your gift
Upon the altar and remember that

Your friend has a complaint against you,24 leave
Your gift before the altar: Go and be
Reconciled with your brother; then come back

And offer your gift.25 Settle matters fast
With your opponent who is taking you
To court. Do it while you are still with him

Along the way, or he may hand you to
The judge, and he may hand you to the guard,
And he may pitch you into prison.26 I

Tell you the truth, you won't get out until
You've paid the final penny.27 You have heard
It was said, ‘Don't commit adultery, '

28 But I tell you that anyone who looks
Lustfully at a woman has already
Practiced adultery with her within

His heart.29 If your right eye leads you astray,
Gouge it out and throw it away. It's better
For you to lose one of your members than

For your whole body to be thrown in hell,
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin,
Cut it off and throw it away. It's better

For you to lose a member than for your
Whole body to go into hell.31 The Law
Of Moses said he who desires divorce

Can give his wife a letter of dismissal,
32 But I tell you that anyone divorcing
His wife, except for fornication, makes

Her into an adulteress, and he
Who marries her commits adultery.
33 Again, the law of Moses said, ‘Don't break

Your oath, but keep the oaths you've made to God.'
34 But I tell you, don't swear by heaven, for
It is God's throne,35 nor by the earth, for it's

His footstool. Don't swear by Jerusalem,
For it is the capital of the Great King,
36 And do not swear by your own head, for you

Cannot make even one hair white or black.
37 When speaking, let your ‘Yes' be ‘Yes, '
and your
‘No, ' ‘No'; for anything beyond this

Comes from the evil one.38 You've heard that it
Was once said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, '
39 But I tell you, do not resist the man

Who wants to harm you. If you are slapped
On one cheek, turn the other too; 40 and if
Someone sues you and takes your shirt, give him

Your coat too; 41 and if someone forces you
To go one mile, go with him two miles.42 Give
To those who ask, and do not turn away

From those who want to borrow from you.43 You've
Heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor; hate
Your enemy, ' 44 but I tell you to love

Your enemies and pray for anyone
Who persecutes you,45 so that you may be
Sons of your Father who's in heaven. He

Causes his sun to rise on both the evil and
The good, and sends His rain upon the righteous
And the unrighteous.46 If you only love

Those who love you, what good is that? Aren't even
The tax collectors doing that? 47 And if
You're friendly only to your friends, what makes

You different from anybody else?
Even pagans do that.48 Be excellent,
As your Father in heaven, as is meant."