Now, in Jerusalem, there is At the sheep-gate a pool, Bethesda called in Hebrew phrase, Five-porched, of water full. And in these porches lay a throng, Diseased and racked with pain; Blind, halt and withered, hoping from The water help to gain. For, sometimes, down an angel went And tossed the quiet pool; And who could, after, step in first, Was sure to be made whole. And one poor sufferer lay there, On that unhappy ground, Who eight and thirty tedious years Infirmity had bound. When Jesus, passing, saw him lie, He knew his wretched case; And He who shares His peoples' woes, Looked down with pitying grace; And kindly asked the man: "Wilt thou Be healed of thy disease?" Well knowing that no earthly boon Could more the cripple please; Who answered, in dejected tone, "Sir, I have no kind friend-- Whene'er the water is stirred up-- His kindly help to lend. "But while with slow and painful steps, I try to move alone, Another suff'rer gets down first, Whose limbs are good and strong;" Then Jesus said: "Rise, lift thy bed, And walk with it away." Immediately the man obeyed; And 'twas the Sabbath day. The Jews who met him, therefore, said: "Thou'rt doing very wrong, Upon this holy, Sabbath day, To bear thy bed along." He answered them: "The man who did The wondrous work on me, Of healing by His own command My long infirmity-- "He said: 'Take up thy bed and walk,' And, instantly, there came A healthful glow through all my limbs, With power to do the same." Then asked they him: "What man is he, Who thus irreverent spake, Commanding thee thus wickedly The Sabbath law to break?" But the healed man knew not the friend Who did him so much good; For Jesus bore Himself away To escape the multitude. But afterward, as Jesus taught Within the temple gate, He found this man and said to him, "Behold thy healthy state; "Now sin no more, lest worse should come Upon the guilty soul." Then went the man and told the Jews 'Twas Jesus made him whole. Therefore the Jews did persecute The Lord and seek to slay, Because He did these wondrous things Upon the Sabbath day. But Jesus preached to them the truth, In language strong and clear; And happy were they who believed, And lent a willing ear. The Man With a Withered Hand. AGAIN, as in the synagogue, The Lord on Sabbath taught, A man who had a withered hand His kind attention sought. And scribes and Pharisees around Watched if the Lord would use His power to heal upon this day, That they might Him accuse. But He, who knew their evil thoughts, Unto the sufferer said: "Arise, and stand forth in the midst;" And the poor man obeyed.