The Beatitudes - A paraphrase

A paraphrase of The Beatitudes by Simon Woodman.

Listen to these here:
https://soundcloud.com/bloomsbury-1/beatitudes-paraphrase

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who refuse the lie that one life is worth more than any other,

for theirs is the future of humanity.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are those who have stared long into the abyss,

for theirs is honesty beyond grief.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who resist retaliation,

for the earth will never be won by force.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are those who would rather die for truth than live with compromise,

for the truth will outlive all lies.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

            Blessed are those who forgive the unforgivable,

            for they have seen the darkness of their own souls.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

            Blessed are those who know themselves truly,

            for they have seen themselves as God sees them.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

            Blessed are those who are provocatively nonviolent,

            for they are following the path of the son of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

            Blessed are those who choose to receive violence but not to give it,

            for the future is born out of such choices.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you

and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,

for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

            Blessed are you when you stand up for truth

            and hell itself decides to try and destroy you.

            You're not the first and you won't be the last.

            I'm telling you now, nothing makes any sense unless you learn see it differently,

            and then choose to live that alternative into being.