If the world hates you,
Keep in mind that it hated me first,
For you are my friends, (1)
Walking with, working with and following me.
Do not forget that the dark always hates the light in the world.
I came to the world as the light; you are the light in this world. (2)
If you were a friend of the world, the world would love you.
Because you are not of the world, the world hates you. (3)
Do not fear those who hate you;
They are unable to kill the soul. (4)
Those who hate you, my friends, hate me;
Those who hate Me hate My Father, the Creator God, also. (5)
Because I speak the truth,
They do not believe Me but hate, (6)
For there is no truth in them. (7)
They do not walk with you who follow the truth.
O my friends who share my sufferings,
Come and share my new life, the resurrection from the dead. (8)
Have my peace if the world hates you.
I have overcome the world. (9)
– Rev. Yong Sub Sim
Poem based on John 15:18
(1) John 15:14
(2) John 1:9; Matthew 5:14
(3) John 15:19
(4) Matthew 10:28
(5) John 15:23
(6) John 8:45
(7) John 8:44
(8) Philippians 3:10-11
(9) John 16:33
Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay.
