There was a prophet whom everyone said was crazy.

Every prediction he said, so said the people

He had gotten wrong.

He even once said that the heavens would pour down fire

If the peoples did not repent of their actions.

Haughtily, the world looked,

And no fire rained from the heavens.

There was another prophet whom everyone said was in his right mind.

Every prediction he said, so said the peoples

He got right.

He even said that fire ought to fall down from the sky

For it would be good for the peoples if it did rain fire.

Haughtily, the world looked

And then desired with their whole hearts for fire to rain down from the heavens

Like Sodom’s Brimstone

For they enlarged their stubborn hearts as if they were gods.

The first prophet was visited by brethren

Of the Church of Christ, to spy whether he was mad

Or truly a prophet. They saw him

And not much greatness was perceived in him

For every proclamation he made was wrong.

Yet, when he spake, the children of God trembled

For fear of God’s wrath.

The second prophet was visited by the same brethren

Of the Church of Christ, to spy whether he were a prophet

For they neither considered him mad, nor a false prophet.

They saw much greatness in him

Enough to bring down fire from the heavens.

Every prediction he made came true.

Yet, when he spake, the children of God became haughty of heart

Desiring in their hearts to become gods.

Which prophet, do you suppose

Had done the will of God?

The one who spoke, and all men trembled

Though not one word of his came true?

Or the prophet whom everyone adored

Because he could tell fortunes,

And make their hearts haughty because of mammon?

Yet, Christ said this: “I give this generation only the sign of Jonah,”

Whom Jonah set three days in the belly of a whale

Before going to Nineveh because he considered he’d be made a fool

When his words would not come true.

And surely, his words did not come true

Because God was merciful to Nineveh.

Woe to that people whose prophet’s words come true

If the prophet’s words are to turn the peoples off of the narrow path.

For the peoples adore great spectacles, but cannot tolerate a poor man

Whom the whole world despises because of the inconvenience of what he says.

Yet, blessed be that prophet who speaks a word,

And it does not come true

If it is spoken to warn the peoples of bitter trials ahead.

For a prophet ought not seek destruction,

But rather to preserve the life of his peoples.

And a prophet’s fear

Is to gladly be made a fool for his prophecy.