The Rhythm of the Lord: Through the Bible in Verse

GENESIS

The Beginning

1 In the beginning, there was God,

Creation then began.

This is how all things were made,

From light right through to man.

2. All was dark, there was no form,

God said, ‘Let there be light,’

So there was light and it was good.

He called it day and night.

3. He separated on Day 2

The water from the sky.

He made dry land, the plants, and trees,

The third day had gone by.

4. The fourth day, God made sun and moon

And stars to shine above,

Then on the fifth, he filled the skies

With birds, such as the dove.

5. And in the waters, he created

Creatures great and small

Of every colour, shape, and size,

To swim, to dive, to crawl.

6. Then on Day 6 was when he made

All creatures on dry land,

From insects to large animals,

All just the way he planned.

Adam and Eve

2 Finally, on this same day,

To finish off his plan,

He formed a being from the dust,

Breathed in it, and made man!

2. God rested on the seventh day,

When all the work was done.

This ‘Day’ he blessed for evermore

To be a holy one.

3. God made a garden filled with trees

And placed the man inside

To tend the plants and all that grew

And now was satisfied.

4. But man was lonely by himself,

So God then thought some more.

‘I’ll make a woman for this man,

Someone whom he’ll adore.’

5. Mankind has now arrived on earth,

Their names? Adam and Eve.

As forerunners of this world’s race,

God’s blessings did receive.

6. God told them in his Fatherly voice,

‘This garden is for you,

But eat not from this tree of life.

I’ll know it if you do!’

The Fall of Man

3 The serpent was a wily one

And tempted Eve to eat

From off that tree and offer some

To Adam for a treat.

2. When they heard God approaching them,

Their eyes were opened wide.

They knew the shame of nakedness

And ran away to hide.

3. But God was angry with all three

And chided everyone.

The serpent, Eve, and Adam too.

This really was no fun.

Cain and Abel

4 They had a son, they named him Cain,

And it was not long to

The time his brother came along,

But jealousy then grew.

2. Cain worked the fields by day and night,

While Abel kept livestock.

Cain grew his crops to harvest them,

And Abel fed his flock.

3. When God required offerings,

’Twas Abel’s he preferred,

So Cain was out of favour then

And rivalry occurred.

4. The angry Cain took Abel out

Into the fields one day,

And hating him, he took his life,

But then he heard God say,

5. ‘Because you did this hateful thing,

I’ll put on you a curse!

Your crops will fail, you’ll have no home,

So you will come off worse!’

6. Eve and Adam bore once more,

A baby they named Seth,

To take the place of their lost son

Who met that sudden death.

7. The sons each took themselves a wife,

And so the family grew,

And this is how the world began

From Adam down to you!

From Adam to Noah

5 Seth had a son and he called him Enosh,

Then Enosh a father became.

His son was Kenan, and when he grew older

Had Mahalalel. What a name!

2. Mahalalel was a father as well,

His son was called Jared and then

He was the father of his firstborn, Enoch,

Who fathered the oldest of men,

3. Methuselah, who lived to 969 years,

Named his first son Lamech, and he

Was the father of Noah, who after some years,

Became the proud father of three.

4. Noah’s sons’ names were Shem, Ham, and Japheth,

So here we have listed above,

Ten generations from Adam to Noah,

And all in the name of God’s love.

The Flood

6 Now Noah, my friends, was a righteous old man,

His wife and three sons all part of God’s plan.

The world was corrupted, both evil and bad,

So God, the Creator, was feeling quite sad.

He called down to Noah and asked him to build

An ark that’s seaworthy; he knew he was skilled.

When Noah agreed to take on the feat,

God gave him the list of all measures to meet.

2. The ark it took shape and he must have felt daft,

Miles from water and building a craft.

The ark measured long and it measured quite wide,

With three separate storeys, quite spacious inside.

With pitch on the outside to keep watertight

He worked like a Trojan, both daytime and night.

At last it was finished—Boy—was it large!

It would have been easier building a barge!

3. ‘And what now, my Lord, must I do with this ark?’

So God gave him orders from morning till dark.

‘Fetch every animal both far and wide,

Until you have one of each gender inside,

Then you and your wife and your sons, their wives too,

Must all go inside this makeshift of a zoo.

Make sure you have food for all those aboard.

And don’t be too long, Noah, please,’ said the Lord.

7 So Noah and family all went out to find

Every wild creature, two of each kind,

And in they all trundled, confused as can be.

It took quite a while, you’ll have to agree,

But once they were in, God shut the doors tight,

They heard the rain falling and knew they’d done right.

‘The world must be cleansed,’ said the Lord, ‘through and through,

But you will be saved, your family and you.’

2. And so they spent ages aboard this big ark,

Which floated so well during daytime and dark.

For forty long days and for forty long nights,

The rain just poured down, and the flood reached new heights.

It suddenly stopped, and the warm sun shone through,

Yet nothing but water outside could they view.

‘So what happens now?’ said Ham to his dad.

‘We just wait and see what God wants, my young lad.’

8 The waters subsided a little each day,

And Noah suspected some land far away.

He sent out a raven, which flew to and fro

But wouldn’t come back till the earth made a show.

He sent out a dove, which came back to rest,

Then in seven days, repeated the test.

This time, it came with a twig in its beak,

So soon they should see the dry land that they seek.

2. At last it was time, and the ark came to rest

On the top of some mountains. Well, I’ll be blessed!

So God called them all to come out of the ark.

It didn’t take long; they were finished by dark.

Noah had taken some extras on board

Of animals suited to give to the Lord.

Some sacrifices on an altar he made,

Thanking the Lord every time that he prayed.

God’s Covenant with Noah

9 To finish this story, I really must say

That God made a Covenant with us that day.

Never again would he flood the whole Earth,

And so he was giving the world a new birth.

To promise his people he’d keep the earth dry,

He planted a rainbow up there in the sky.

So each time you see it, remember to be

All loving, obedient, and thankful as he.

From Shem to Abram

11 Nine generations from Shem

Lived Terah and his wife. She bore

Three sons, whose names were as follows:

Abram, Haran, and Nahor.

Haran was the father of Lot,

But Haran died young, so it’s said.

His brothers then later got married,

Not knowing quite what lay ahead.

The Call of Abram

12 The brother we now know as Abram,

He lived in the district of Haran.

The wife that he took was Sarai,

But sadly, this woman was barren.

God called out to Abram to travel

To Canaan, where he would be blessed,

And so with his retinue with him,

The party set off on this quest.

2. This party included his nephew,

Haran’s son, Lot, and of course

His wife, Sarai, with all their cattle

And other livestock, quite a force!

Then there were other possessions

Amassed by them up until when

They travelled the land fully laden.

This was a long journey, but then

Abram in Egypt

3. This land to which Abram was heading

Was so short of food, so he thought,

‘First, let us go down to Egypt,

Where food for us all can be bought.’

But as his wife glowed with great beauty,

He feared for his life, so he said,

‘We’ll say that you’re my younger sister.

They’ll favour us both then instead.’

4. It worked at the very beginning,

But Pharaoh caught on to the plan.

He knew then that he had been cheated,

So said, ‘Leave now, fast as you can.’

Now Abram then went up from Egypt,

Lot and his family went too,

But as they both owned lots of livestock,

They had to sort out what to do.

Abram and Lot Separate

13 It seemed there was only one answer

To resolve this problem of theirs,

And that was to part from each other.

Then they could both have equal shares.

The land as it was couldn’t cater

For two men who owned such large stocks,

So parting in different directions

Gave them ample food for their flocks.

2. Where Abram had settled in Canaan,

The Lord said, ‘Now you look around

And all that you see will be given

To you for your very own ground.

Then all this will go to your offspring.

They’ll number as dust of the earth,

Too many for someone to count them

And food will be plenty, no dearth!’

Abram Rescues Lot

14 When fighting broke out in the country

And Abram heard Lot had been seized,

He set up a plan to release him.

It worked, and with this, he was pleased.

After this victory, Abram

Was blessed by Priest Melchizedek

To whom Abram tithed his possessions

After his ‘home again’ trek.

Hagar and Ishmael

16 Sarai’s maidservant was given

To Abram to help multiply

Their family, as Sarai was childless,

But then as the weeks passed on by,

Her pregnant maidservant despised her

And Sarai became very stern.

She ill-treated her, so she ran off.

An angel made Hagar return.

The Covenant of Circumcision

17 Now Abram means ‘exalted father’,

But God was not sure of this name.

He told him a new one was needed,

And so Abraham he became.

‘This name means Father of many,

But each male must be circumcised.

This will then be their new covenant.’

Abraham was so surprised.

2. God then changed Sarai to Sarah,

And now the Lord knew it was time

To draw up a promise forever,

As they were both way past their prime.

He told them they’d have many children,

As many as stars in the sky

Or grains of sand on the vast seashore,

And this time was fast drawing nigh.

The Three Visitors

18 When Abraham and his wife Sarah

Were settled, three callers came there.

They gave them a meal as they rested,

And one of them had news to bear,

‘Next year, I’ll be returning,

And Sarah will bear you a son.

You will be father to many,

But Isaac will be your first one.’

2. Now Abraham became confused here.

The Lord made him childless, you see,

So how could he have all these children

And father a nation-to-be?

Then Sarah, amused at this promise,

For she was past child-bearing years,

With Abraham, also no youngster,

She laughed till she flooded with tears.

The Birth of Isaac

21 But true to his Word, the Lord blessed them,

And Sarah, she bore him a son,

So Abraham named his son Isaac.

His work now had surely begun.

Sarah said, ‘God’s brought me laughter,

And others will laugh with me too.

Who would have said I’d nurse children?

Yet here is the proof that I do!’

Abraham Tested

22 One day, the Lord called his servant.

He answered, ‘Your servant is here.’

Then God said, ‘Just do something for me.

And trust me, you’ve no need to fear.

Take your son Isaac up country

And take enough wood for a fire,

Then place on your son that you love so

This sacrifice I now require.’

2. So Abraham early next morning

Saddled his donkey, and then

He beckoned to two of his servants

And Isaac, aged round about ten.

Now Abraham being so trusting

In faith, he then followed God’s Word,

But just as he raised his sharp weapon,

‘No, no, Abraham!’ he then heard.

3. ‘Instead, if you look over yonder,

A ram in a bush you will see.

I’m very impressed by your actions

To offer your firstborn to me.’

So Abraham and God drew closer.

He knew he had picked the right man

To head up a special new nation,

Which all fitted in with his plan.

Isaac and Rebekah

24 Isaac

Grew up both sturdy and strong,

His father said, ‘He needs a wife.’

He sent off a servant to distant Nahor to find one to share Isaac’s life.

He sat by the well; it was evening time; the women all came out to draw

All that they needed from out of that well,

Then they all went back to

Nahor.

2. Rebekah

Came out with her jar held aloft,

The servant was sitting nearby.

‘Lower your jar and allow me to drink,’ he said with a gleam in his eye.

Rebekah then lowered the drink to his lips and everything fitted the plan,

Her brother invited him back to their home

For finding his sister a

Man.

3. Rebekah

Was told by her parents to go

To meet the young man and to wed.

They set off at once, and on their way back, they saw Isaac, and Rebekah said,

‘Who is that man in the field fast approaching?’ ‘My master,’ the servant replied.

She took off her veil and covered

Her face and soon she became his sweet

Bride.

Jacob and Esau

25 Isaac’s

Wife bore him two babies one day,

Twin boys she had, they were adored.

With Esau the firstborn and Jacob the next, their prayers had been heard by the Lord.

Esau became a great hunter by trade, and Jacob, he stayed near the tents,

But Jacob was crafty and so was his mum,

They hatched out a plan quite

Immense.

Jacob Gets Isaac’s Blessing

27 When

Isaac was elderly, near to his death,

He wanted to bless his firstborn,

But Jacob and ‘Bekah, they held out their plan—leaving Esau deceived and forlorn,

For Isaac thought he had blessed Esau that day, but his eyes were fast growing dim,

And Esau missed out because Jacob went first

So had Isaac’s blessing on

Him!

Jacob Flees to Laban

2. Because

Of this, Esau vowed to kill Jacob,

But Rebekah heard of the plot.

She sent Jacob off to his uncle Laban, whilst Esau’s rage still burnt red hot.

She told Isaac that she had sent him away so he couldn’t wed a Hittite.

She said they were not suited to be his wife.

In fact, she just viewed them as

Blight.

Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

28 Jacob

Was told he must go back to Haran,

And find him a young maid to wed.

He stopped on the way because night was upon him and wearily lay down his head.

He dreamt of a staircase from earth up to heaven and promises made by the Lord,

So when he awoke, he was so pleased with God

That he felt he should take him on

Board!

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

29 Jacob arrived at his father’s home town

And met with his family once more.

His uncle was married with two girls unwed.

The youngest one Jacob fell for.

2. ‘What must I do now to earn Rachel’s hand

In marriage, please, Laban?’ he said.

‘Work on my land for a full seven years,

Then you shall have Rachel to wed.’

3. And so Jacob toiled hard every day.

For seven years, he ploughed and heaved.

But when in the marriage the bride raised her veil,

Poor Jacob knew he’d been deceived.

4. For this was not Rachel, his new blushing bride,

But Leah, her sister, stood there.

As Laban explained, ‘Eldest daughters wed first.

Rachel must wait. That is fair.’

5. So Jacob must work for seven years more,

But Rachel was made his sweet bride.

It seemed a long time, but he didn’t mind.

He had Rachel there at his side.

Jacob’s Children

30 Both Leah and Rachel bore children for him

With the help of their maidservants too.

First Reuben then Simeon, Levi, and Judah.

This is to name but a few.

2. Then next came Dan, Napthali, and Gad.

Asher was eighth in the line,

Then Issachar, Zebulun, then a surprise,

As Rachel cries, ‘This one is mine!’

3. For she had been barren up until now,

So prayers had been answered once more.

When Joseph was born, he was his father’s joy,

But jealousy came to the fore.

Jacob’s Flocks Increase

4. Meanwhile, both Laban and Jacob agreed

That Jacob could have all the flock

That showed any blemish of streaks or of spots,

So he could build up his own stock

5. But Jacob had learnt how to breed good strong stock

With markings, and so he soon had

Much larger flocks than Laban possessed,

And so things for Jacob looked bad.

Jacob Flees from Laban

31 Word got around of what he had done.

The Lord said, ‘You must now go back.’

He called to his wives to come to the flocks.

They needed to make a back-track.

2. He told them that God had been upset with Laban,

Their father, and so he had made

Jacob’s flocks grow to reach a high number.

His wives said they’d do as he bade.

3. With all their possessions, they fled o’er the river,

Gilead was in their sights,

Then on to Canaan, the land of his father,

Taking a rest time at nights.

Laban Pursues Jacob

4. When Laban heard this, he gathered his kinfolk

And set out to catch Jacob’s lot.

It took seven days, and he confronted Jacob

To ask him the cause of this plot.

5. After their dispute and making a promise,

They ate, then they slept till the morn.

Laban then kissed both his daughters and set off

Back home again after day’s dawn.

Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau

32 Jacob had messengers going before him

To meet up with Esau to say,

‘Here are some gifts sent from Jacob, your brother,

Who also is heading this way.’

2. The gifts were of livestock, of which he had plenty.

He hoped that the two could agree.

He split his own group into two different sections,

In case he should have need to flee.

Jacob Wrestles with God

3. That night, he got up and took his two wives,

His maidservants, and his sons too.

He sent them across the ford of Jabbok,

Where all of his herds followed through.

4. He stayed behind, and a man with him wrestled

Up until daybreak, and then

The man said, ‘Release me.’ But Jacob replied,

‘Not till you bless me.’ And when

5. The man gave his blessing, then asked him his name.

‘It’s Jacob that you now assail.’

Then the man said, ‘As you overcame man

And God, you’ll be re-named Israel.’

Jacob Meets Esau

33 When Jacob met Esau, they greeted each other

With tears of joy and a kiss.

Esau returned all the livestock he’d sent him.

He said, ‘I don’t need all of this.’

2. But Jacob insisted, so Esau agreed,

Then said, ‘Let us be on our way.’

Esau led on while his brother went slowly.

They reached Canaan, where they would stay.

The Deaths of Rachel and Isaac

3. Rachel’s life ended when she bore a son

Named Benjamin, who was to be

The youngest of Israel’s boys, altogether

Twelve in this large family.

4. Isaac too died a little time later,

When he was old and full of years.

Jacob returned to Mamre with Esau

And buried him, shedding his tears.

Joseph’s Dreams

37 Now, Jacob made Joseph a coat of fine linen,

With colours that gave great array.

His brothers all knew that he must be the favourite

And plotted to get him one day.

2. When Joseph’s age had reached seventeen,

He started to dream every night.

It seems that his future was forecast as good,

But his brothers would face a great plight.

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

3. Once, as his brothers were grazing their flocks,

His father sent him out to see

If all was OK with the flocks and his kin.

Alas, that just wasn’t to be.

4. When they saw Joseph approaching their fields,

They plotted to kill him stone dead,

But Reuben, one brother, was showing concern,

‘Don’t kill him, but listen instead.’

5. ‘Why don’t we throw him into the cistern?’

‘We will,’ was the echoed reply.

They took from his body his colourful robe.

The cistern was deep but was dry.

6. Then later, they all saw a camel train coming

With Ishmaelites sitting aboard.

‘Let’s sell him and make a few shekels,’ they said.

‘A super idea!’ they all roared.

7. So Joseph was sold for some shekels that day,

His brothers then killed a wild goat

And smearing the blood on the coat of all colours

Went home to their father to gloat.

8. Poor Jacob believed that his son was no longer

And wept as he grieved night and day.

If only he knew this was part of God’s plan,

He would soon put his sackcloth away.

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

39 Joseph was sold to Pharaoh’s official,

Potiphar, ranking quite high.

He put him in charge of his household affairs,

Until his wife gave him the eye

2. But Joseph was loyal and would not give in

To all of her mischievous play,

So grabbing his robe, she screamed out aloud,

He shed it and then ran away.

3. His wife told such lies to her husband that night

That Potiphar, angered and sore,

Threw Joseph in prison not knowing the truth,

Poor Joseph not knowing what for.

4. While there, Joseph listened to prisoners’ dreams,

Interpreting them straight away,

But when the king dreamt, no wise man could help,

So they called upon Joseph that day.

Pharaoh’s Dreams

41 Pharaoh told Joseph he’d dreamt about cows,

Seven in all, who were fat,

Then seven thin cows came on to the scene

And ate them up, so that was that!

2. He dreamt once again, but this time of corn,

Seven large ears he saw grow.

Then he saw seven more small, weedy ones,

And they ate the large ones just so.

3. He said that the meaning was plenty of harvest,

And this would be for seven years

Followed by famine with little or nothing,

Which naturally raised all their fears.

4. Joseph was wise and the ruler perceived it,

So put him in charge of the plan

To ration and store all the crop of the harvest,

Then serve portions out to each man.

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

5. When all the good years were passed and the famine

Had started to take a strong hold,

Plenty of grain was available, which

In seven lean years would be sold.

Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt

42 When Jacob got wind of this grain in abundance,

He sent his sons over to buy

Enough for their kinfolk to last them a while,

Then back for some more lest they die.

2. So this was the way Joseph met with his brothers,

And he was determined to see

His young brother Benjamin, whom they held back,

But finally they did agree.

Jacob Goes to Egypt

46 The family moved into Egypt one year,

Where father and son met again.

So Jacob had seen with his very own eyes

His Joseph to end all the pain.

Jacob’s Blessing and Death

49 He blessed all his sons and he gave them instructions,

‘My twelve tribes of Israel,’ he cried,

And so with his work all completed and done,

He drew his last breath and he died.

EXODUS

The Israelites Oppressed

1 The Israelites multiplied more every day.

The new king of Egypt looked on with dismay.

He thought of a scheme that might just do the trick,

‘We’ll make them our slaves, but we ought to be quick,’

He added, ‘And just to keep all numbers down,

Boys under two years of age you must drown.

The midwives have failed to kill them, you see,

Despite those instructions coming from me!’

The Birth of Moses

2 About this same time, a man of the house

Of Levi, who married and took for his spouse

A sweet Levite woman, who seemed the right one,

She became pregnant and bore him a son.

Then when she saw he was such a fine boy,

She hid him away, for he was her joy.

As he grew bigger, this was hard to do,

So thought of a way to smuggle him through.

2. A papyrus basket was made for his needs,

Then hidden securely amongst all the reeds.

The covering of pitch kept him safe on the Nile.

His sister stood near and watched for a while.

Suddenly, Pharoah’s young daughter came by but Stopped when she thought she heard a babe cry.

She pulled him out gently, the poor little waif,

‘Moses’ she called him, so glad he was safe.

Moses Flees to Midian

3. So Moses grew up and was able to see

His people as slaves treated violently.

He slew an Egyptian and then ran and ran

Until he had reached a place called Midian.

He sat by a well, and along came at least

Seven girls, daughters of one local priest.

They came to draw water, but shepherds nearby

Chased them, so Moses replied to their cry.

4. He watered their flock, sent them on their way.

Their father said, ‘Invite him back here one day.’

Moses came back and stayed with the man

And married a daughter, all part of God’s plan.

He worked as a shepherd and tended his flock.

His father-in-law gave him charge of his stock.

God then heard groaning from his special race

And knew it was time to put something in place.

Moses and the Burning Bush

3 While Moses was tending the flocks one fine day,

He took them out grazing a different way.

It wasn’t too easy to find for them there

Good pastures to nibble; the desert was bare.

As he arrived, he soon settled the flock.

What happened next gave him rather a shock!

He saw what he thought was a big bush on fire,

Then heard God’s voice coming from out of the brier.

2. ‘Moses,’ God called to him, ‘Listen to me.

I’ve heard all my people cry in slavery.

I want you to lead them all out of that land,

And I will be with you to give you a hand.’

Moses thought hard, but he harboured some doubt

That he would be able to bring this about.

He hoped that the elders would give him support.

He needed much help, so this he now sought.

Signs for Moses

4 Moses was told how to make Pharaoh shake,

By throwing his staff down to make it a snake.

Regardless of this, Moses just would have none.

He made every excuse that’s under the sun.

Then the Lord’s anger burnt harder that day.

He said, ‘Ask your brother. He’s headed this way.’

Moses went back to his father-in-law

For leave to return to Egypt once more.

Moses Returns to Egypt

2. Jethro said, ‘Go, and I do wish you well.’

Moses met Aaron; they had much to tell

And Moses made Aaron, his brother, agree

To help lead the people where they could be free.

They fetched all the elders to meet with them there,

Showed them the signs as much as they dare.

So now things were ready to bring their release.

The Israelites heard that their slaving would cease.

The Plague of Blood

7 When Pharaoh said he would not let them go,

God promised Moses he’d deal with the foe.

This was the start of the plagues yet to come,

These ghastly events to make them all glum.

First, when he threw the staff down on the mud,

The people were shocked when the Nile turned to blood.

The fish in the Nile all died straight away.

The stench was so bad it just reeked of decay.

The Plague of Frogs, Gnats, and Flies

8 Seven days later, the second plague broke,

With millions of frogs who did nothing but croak,

But this didn’t work, as Pharaoh held tight,

So God sent them gnats that did nothing but bite.

Still Pharaoh held firm, and God sent the flies,

They crawled in their ears, their noses, and eyes,

After the flies had gone, all became calm,

Except Pharaoh’s heart; he still wished them harm.

The Plague on Livestock, Boils, and Hail

9 So Pharaoh’s heart hardened; he just wouldn’t yield,

And so all their livestock fell dead in the field.

You’d think he would learn and he’d want to give in,

But no, so the next plague was boils on their skin.

Yet still Pharaoh stiffened, seems this was his form,

So God sent a very destructive hailstorm.

As soon as it ceased, then Pharaoh remained

Adamant that all the slaves be retained.

Locusts