10. June 2010 02:56
Try these for some alternative versions of Jesus' famous affirmation of the fact that God's power is made perfect in weakness.
Firstly, imagine if the beatitudes were not written by Jesus but by people like you and me. They may have read like this according to J.B Philips.
Happy are the pushers, for they get on in the world
Happy are the hard boiled for they never let life hurt them
Happy are those who complain for they will get their own way in the end
Happy are the blasé because they never have to worry over there sins... Happy are the slave drivers for they get results
Happy are the knowledgeable people in the world for they find their way around
Happy are the troublemakers for they make people pay attention to them.
Or for a version a bit close to the real one; care of Daniel Moyler.
Blessed are the meek who scratch in the dirt
For they shall inherit what's left of the earth
Blessed are the kings who've left their thrones
They are buried in this valley of dry bones
Blessed all of you with an empty heart
For you got nothing from which you cannot part
Blessed is the ego, it's all we got this hour
Blessed is the voice that speaks truth to power
Blessed is the sex worker who sold her body tonight
She used what she got to save her children's life
Blessed are you, the deaf cannot hear a scream
Blessed are the stupid who can dream
Blessed are the tin canned cardboard slums
Blessed is the spirit that overcomes.
If you'd like to compare these to the real ones then check out Matthew 5
Some more thoughts on different lines in the beatitudes over the next few weeks...