The Gospel of Thomas: Logion 12

His students said,

We know we cannot hold on to you

so who will lead us then?

Yeshua said,

“Wherever it is that you find yourselves,

turn to James, one of the Just

for whom heaven and earth

have come into being.”

(Note: This image originally published as Psalm 6)

Psalm 10

The Cry for Justice

1. Lord, when there is such deep need

and I am in distress,

why do you remove yourself and stand so far away

2. While evil roams this world, hunting down the poor?

Catch the prideful, wicked ones

in all their evil ways.

3. Just listen to their boasts and schemes,

their terrible desires.

For they deride your name in scorn,

4. They care nothing for you at all.

They even say, “There is no God,”

you’ve vanished out-of-sight.

5. Yet still they prosper in their ways,

contemptuous of all that’s good.

6. They boast of vast securities,

protecting them from you.

7. Deceit and cursing fills their mouths,

crooked their every word.

8. They hide among the innocent,

seeking for their prey.

9. They seize upon the helpless ones,

and drag them to their lair.

10. They hold them in captivity,

waiting for the feed.

11. You see, O God, these innocent,

how weak ones cannot stand.

12. You also hear the wicked say,

“God has forgotten them.”

13. Rise up, O God, do not forget,

in this our hour of need.

14. Let not these wicked ones

deride or trample on the good,

Or say, “God does not care at all,

we’ll never have to pay,”

15. You’ve seen it all by now, O God,

our troubles to you are clear.

16. You know these tired, these tortured ones,

they cling to you in fear.

17. So break the power of evil,

lay bare what hides to harm,

18. And we shall live forever

where evil is no more.

19. O helper of the helpless ones,

hear this our great lament,

Lean close to touch the needy and the poor,

and make them strong again.

20. Then all across this world of ours,

the orphaned and oppressed

Will see at last true justice done,

that terror reigns no more.

The Gospel of Thomas: Logion 10

Yeshua says,

See, I have sown fire into the cosmos,

and I shall guard it carefully

until it blazes.

Psalm 9

Great, Good News

1. Everything within me wants to cry out “thanks,” and “praise!”

Everything wants to tell the great good news of what you’ve done.

2. So full of song am I, O God, so full of joy,

the mention of your holy name sets my soul to singing.

3. My enemies are gone,

you’ve driven them stumbling and far away,

and as they fled in fear they vanished out of sight.

4. For you upheld my right, my cause,

you’ve rendered justice from your throne.

5. You’ve brought the many nations low,

and wiped the slate of evil clean.

You’ve destroyed the very heart of wickedness,

with its list of many names.

6. Gone these dreadful enemies of ours,

Gone their habitation, their memories fading fast.

7. But you remain forever

as a good and righteous judge.

8. Your rulings are based in justice,

you judgments, balanced, fair.

9. You are for us a place secure,

to whom we turn in faith, and unafraid.

10. We’ve come to love your sacred name,

and trust your loving care.

11. So now I offer praise to you,

I proclaim what you have done.

12. The true avenger of the blood of innocents

did not forget the lost and little ones.

13. So save me from my enemies,

close the yawning gates of death.

14. Then I too shall enter your city,

proclaiming your praise with joy on my lips.

15. For my foes have fallen deep into the pit,

they’ve entangled their feet in their own nets.

16. And you have revealed yourself, unhidden,

the schemers are caught in the plots of their hands.

17. The heedless have sunk low in oblivion.

The wicked go down to the dead.

18. But the needy and poor, they’re remembered forever,

their hopes and their dreams do not fade.

19. So rise up, O God, again judge the nations,

let all that’s eternal prevail.

20. Put fear at last in the hearts of the peoples,

make us know that our life is but days.

The Gospel of Thomas: Logion 9

Yeshua says,

A farmer went out to plant,

scattering seed everywhere.

Some fell on the surface of the road.

Birds came and ate it.

Other seeds fell on rocky ground

and could not take root in the earth,

or send grain heavenward,

and so never germinated.

Still other seed fell among weeds and brambles

which choked it out, and insects devoured it.

Some, however, fell onto fertile soil

which produced fruit of high quality

yielding as much as sixty and

one-hundred and twenty percent.

Psalm 6

I’m Weak, Be Merciful

1. Lord, I feel your anger aimed against me,

do not reject or punish me, I pray.

2. I’m weak, O Lord, be merciful.

Heal this racking pain I feel to my very bones.

3. I’m shaken to my core, depressed and all alone.

How long can I go on in judgment and despair?

4. Turn back to me, O God,

in kindness set me free,

5. For who remembers you when they are gone?

What tongue can praise you from the grave?

6. I’m tired of my groaning and this aching pain.

I’m weary of lying in this tear-soaked bed.

7. My eyes grow dim with weeping, grief, and agony,

all my troubles have worn me thin.

8. Go away, all you who seek to do me harm.

God feels my pain and hears the storming of my grief.

9. Yes, it is God who gathers up my tears.

My prayers are never ever turned away.

10. But the day will come

when my foes shall stand astounded, Lord;

they shall turn and see what you have done.

then it is they who shall be confused.

The Gospel of Thomas: Logion 6

His students asked him,

Do you want us to fast?

How shall we pray?

Should we give offerings?

From what foods must we abstain?

Yeshua answered,

“Stop lying.

Do not do what you hate,

because everything here lies open before heaven.

Nothing hidden will remain secret,

for the veil will be stripped away

from what lies concealed behind it.”