Oh Hypocrite

With your mouth you seek to please me,
From your lip pours empty praise,
With your honor you displease me
Yet call to God to bless your days,
In vain you declare my teaching,
In vain you worship me,
And you mock me with your preaching
For your heart is not set free

Take away all your fancy words,
Your religious mockery,
You have shown me by your works
That your heart is far from me,
Strip away self-righteous gowns,
End all your vain expressions,
Take your laws and throw them down,
Cease your false confessions

Clanging bells and tinkling cymbals,
Echoes from a hollow shell,
Fall upon the ground and tremble,
God who made you knows you well,
With your lips you form my praises
With your heart you hate my way,
Your false honor, God despises,
Praising while you disobey

This poem was a finalist in the August 2009 poetry contest