Note: This comes from Numbers in the Bible, where the Hebrews keep displeasing God, who threatens to destroy them, causing Moses to intercede on their behalf. Here's my interpretation, anyway.
Numbers
My Lord I really must protest -
My people - your children - have done their best.
To follow your will they have journeyed
Out of Egypt, which was all they knew,
And wandered and tarried
In deserted and lonely lands.
Can you begin to understand
The fear in men's hearts - even those of the true -
Of what is yet unknown?
Better the certain pittance than the sumptuous feast
That may be gone
As the wind -
Slaves had meals at least.
Men are not gods -
Were we perfect, we would be you, God -
And all men are afraid
Of wrenching hunger and parching thirst,
And they have yet to see
The promised land that bursts
With milk and honey.
Forgive me this trespass, my Lord,
But though I have obeyed
Your will so long, I must needs speak -
For this people you have shown the peak
Of your powers,
Delivering them from slavery
At a timely hour.
Would you now deprive them of their reward
And threaten total destruction
For mere human imperfection?
Would you smite them again and again and yet again
For faults only natural to men?
And in all practicality,
What would our enemies say?
Won't you reconsider - won't you rescind?
I have obeyed and I will obey
But this time I must needs speak
For men who have done their very best
To pass your exacting test
But are - in the end - only men.
Numbers
My Lord I really must protest -
My people - your children - have done their best.
To follow your will they have journeyed
Out of Egypt, which was all they knew,
And wandered and tarried
In deserted and lonely lands.
Can you begin to understand
The fear in men's hearts - even those of the true -
Of what is yet unknown?
Better the certain pittance than the sumptuous feast
That may be gone
As the wind -
Slaves had meals at least.
Men are not gods -
Were we perfect, we would be you, God -
And all men are afraid
Of wrenching hunger and parching thirst,
And they have yet to see
The promised land that bursts
With milk and honey.
Forgive me this trespass, my Lord,
But though I have obeyed
Your will so long, I must needs speak -
For this people you have shown the peak
Of your powers,
Delivering them from slavery
At a timely hour.
Would you now deprive them of their reward
And threaten total destruction
For mere human imperfection?
Would you smite them again and again and yet again
For faults only natural to men?
And in all practicality,
What would our enemies say?
Won't you reconsider - won't you rescind?
I have obeyed and I will obey
But this time I must needs speak
For men who have done their very best
To pass your exacting test
But are - in the end - only men.