Manasseh

Manasseh, Hezekiah's son

Broke all God's rules, every one.

His father pulled the idols down

he smashed them all upon the ground

But Manasseh, evil man,

stood them all back up again.

This dreadful king, he truly would,

worship anything that stood

still for long enough, and then

he'd find more things and worship them!

He carved out Asherah poles and Baals

He bowed before the moon and stars

He worshipped all the heavenly host

He talked to witches, looked for ghosts

Jerusalem was filled with blood

From end to end there was a flood

From south to north, from west to east,

Manasseh moved and, what a beast,

he slashed his sword like one insane

and left behind a thousand slain

and then he went back to his home

and turned on those who were his own.

Manasseh took his own poor son

and made him through the fire run

He did all this to please the Baals,

the Asherahs, the moon, the stars

And then Manasseh, what a nerve!

Took all the gods he liked to serve

and stood them in the temple: No!

This evil king would have to go!

Manasseh was so truly bad

That God, though patient, said he had

had enough. He set a date

when like a grubby, dirty plate

Judah, he would scrape and wipe

Away with them! A single swipe

and they'd be gone. God's word was true

and that is what he said he'd do.

Manasseh, Hezekiah's son

broke all God's rules, every one.

And all the people followed him

So Judah writhed and sank in sin.

sar 2010