The Sermon on the Mount -- Anonymous

lines from

(Poem #314) The Sermon on the Mount Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. -- Anonymous

Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 3 to 9.

As I've mentioned before, the Bible contains some of the
most beautiful verse in existence, bar none. But what I like
most is the utter perfection with which form is melded with
content - the words are simplicity itself; and in their
simplicity lies their power.

The Sermon on the Mount itself is one the great ethical
treatises of humankind. Its message of love and faith
transcends all boundaries of time and space, and it's
beautiful in many very different ways.

thomas.

[Minstrels Links]

The Book of Job isn't very widely-read, but it does have some lovely verse.
You can read extracts from it at poem #40

The King James Bible is easily the richest single source of phrases in the
English language, putting even Shakespeare in the shade [1]. For example,
the utterly perfect Psalm 23: poem #218

I wrote a short essay on the power of great literature to transform the
language; you can read it (along with the verse it accompanies, from
Christopher Marlowe's Dr. Faustus) at poem #75