Classic Poem

Be thou not angered. Go thy way
From God's high altar to thy foe;
Nor think to kneel and truly pray
Till thou art reconciled and know
Thou hast forgiven him; as thou must be
Forgiven of the sins that burthen thee.

And if thine eye tempt thee to shame
Turn thou aside; pluck it away!
And with thy right hand deal the same,
Nor tempt thy soul to sin this day.
Yea, thou art very weak. Thou couldst not make
One hair turn white or black, for thine own sake.

And whosoever smite thy cheek,
Turn thou that he may smite again.

The truly brave are truly meek,
And bravely bear both shame and pain.
They slay, if truly brave men ever slay,
Their foes, with sweet forgiveness, day by day.

And if a man would take thy coat,
Give him thy cloak and count it meet.
Bread cast on waters can but float
In sweet forgiveness to thy feet;
So thou, by silent act like this, shalt preach
Such sermons as not flame nor sword can teach.

Lay not up treasures for yourselves
On earth, and stint and starve the soul
By heaping granaries and shelves
And high store-houses; for the whole
Of wealth is this: to grow and grow and grow
In faith; to know and ever seek to know.

Therefore give not too much of thought
For thy tomorrows. Birds that call
Sweet melodies sow not, reap not,
And yet the Father feedeth all.
Therefore toil trusting, loving; watch and pray,
And pray in secret; pray not long, but say:

Give us our daily bread this day,
Forgive our sins as we forgive,
Lead us not in temptation's way,
Deliver us that we may live;
For thine the kingdom is, has ever been,
And thine the power, the glory, and — Amen!