Words From A Learner Poem by Yehoshua Shim'onai

My brothers honor your fathers
. in the Lord,
. and obey your mothers
. in what is right, my sisters;
Let your minds focus
. on their teachings
. and your hearts cling
. to their advices.

For once I became
. a foolish son,
. once I was despising
. my father's instructions;
Once I rebelled against
. his commands
. and disobeyed his
. words.

And like a sheep from
. a herd,
. I strayed to foolishness,
Like a goat to its master
. became stubborn towards
. my parents.

Then I lived out my life
. according to my will
. and according to my
. desires, I went on;
My ways was the appeal
. of my impure heart,
. not knowing that it leads
. to danger.

But not only my father
. did I disobeyed
. but also the Lord
. our Father,
Not only my mother's words
. did I despised
. but also the eternal
. words of the Great I AM!

So to the hands of Satan
. I was delivered -
. to the evil I was brought;
To the prison of my desires
. I was imprisoned
. and I was lead into
. the captivity of fires!

Thus, foolishness brought me
. despair
. and irreverence pushed
. me to a pit;
Pride lead me to my
. fallen state
. and lust left me
. a grieving heart!

If not for the love of God
. I will still be in darkness,
. if not for the Lord's grace
. I will remain a stray,
If not for His kindness
. forever will I be a fallen,
. for His mercy delivered
. me from grieving.

Nevertheless, there are still
. marks that will stay
. and scars that will remain;
There are effects that are
. lasting
. and consequences
. that will go on.

Listen to your fathers'
. instructions, my siblings,
. and never turn your ears
. from your mothers words,
That the Lord may bless
. your life
. and prolong your days,
That He may increase
. your harvest
. and prosper your
. good works.

For a father's godly advice
. is like a helmet
. and a mother's wise
. instruction like a shield -
They shall keep you
. from evil
. and protect you from
. destruction.

Now those who listen to
. their godly fathers are
. like fruitful fields -
. the seeds in their hearts
. shall feed them -
But the disobedient children
. are like fallow lands -
. they shall suffer starvation
. unless they plant those
. seeds!