JOSHUA 9...........

Joshua 9

22 Then Joshua called for them all,

He spoke to them and to recall,

Saying “Why have you deceived us,

Saying ‘We’re very far from you,’

When in fact you live near to us?

23 “Now therefore, you are cursed, and none

Of you shall be freed once we’ve done

From being slaves, cutters of wood

And drawers of water for good

For the house of my God begun.”

24 So they answered Joshua and

Said “Because your servants at hand

Were surely told that YHWH your God

Commanded His servant with rod,

Moses to give you all the land,

And to destroy all in the land,

Inhabitants before your hand,

That’s why we were afraid indeed

For our lives because of your creed,

And have done this thing in our need.

25 “And now, here we are, in your hands,

Do with us as seems by commands

Good and right to do to our bands.”

26 So did he to them, and he saved

Them from Israel’s folk’s hand that raved,

So they did not kill them at all.

27 And that day Joshua did install

Them as cutters of wood and all

To carry water for the folk

Of the congregation and stoke

The altar of YHWH, in the place

Which He’d choose, even to this pace.



The world is full of things that do not seem

To be the things they are. The milk and cream

Are often made of artificial gas,

And covered with a sugar taste, alas!

My own self comes to me with well-worn shoe

And dried and mouldy bread instead of new,

So shall I blame the neighbour for his guile

In cheating me of silver in a pile?

Beloved, I flee to You in refuge from

The enemy within and wranglesome

Without. Replace suspicion in my heart

With clear eye-sight for those who play a part.

I need no slave to carry water, cut

My wood, Beloved. Let me keep guard-doors shut.

From The Beloved and I by Thomas McElwain, Walker Quill Publishing