Amen, amen*
(Aramaic אמן , Greek ἀμήν, English amen)
“Amen, amen!” - is what I say, just now,
but in a timeless way I mean it too.
That Aramaic word hallowed somehow
because the Word himself did deign to do
his “bearing witness” to the truth of God
in Palestine, when villag-ers spoke so,
in local speech, to local folk who trod
the dusty streets, as folk who'd like to know
the truth of God (who made this world - to speak).
but in a timeless way I mean it too.
That Aramaic word hallowed somehow
because the Word himself did deign to do
his “bearing witness” to the truth of God
in Palestine, when villag-ers spoke so,
in local speech, to local folk who trod
the dusty streets, as folk who'd like to know
the truth of God (who made this world - to speak).
For when he said that phrase, as John writes some...
of Aramaic words in Common Greek,
it meant it’s “Truly true”... Or “Fair din-kum”,
not finishing a prayer that must be said.
He often says it at the start of speech,
acknowledging what’s fair-dinkum ahead,
or roundabout within their very reach.
To think they had a phrase that meant the same
as “fair dinkum”, or “ridgey didge”, “true-blue”,
and one used it who gave it back it’s name.
Oh God, I want to learn to do that too!
Amen, amen, I want to learn to say
what’s true and helpful, fair-dinkum, in word,
and that they be the tip of what's today
communicated by what’s seen and heard.
So maybe if it turns my speech to prayers,
it won't be such a problem for us all.
To act and speak as though God was right “there”
so only what’s like him, comes from this Paul.
* “The word amen (/ˌɑːˈmɛn/ or /ˌeɪˈmɛn/)[a] (Hebrew אָמֵ, Greek ἀμήν, Arabic آمِينَ) is a declaration of affirmation[1][2] found in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. It is found in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim worship as a concluding word or response to prayers.[2] Common English translations of the word amen include "verily" and "truly". It can also be used colloquially to express strong agreement,[2] as in, for instance, amen to that.[3]” From https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen (accessed on 1/July/2018@8:00am)
See these web-sites to get a feel for it’s meaning and derivation: https://www.catholic.com/index.php/qa/what-exactly-does-amen-mean ; https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/amen/ ;
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