- Ye rulers which are put in trust
- to judge of wrong and right:
- Be all your judgments true and just,
- not knowing need or might?
-
- 2 Nay in your hearts ye mark and muse
- in mischief to consent,
- And were ye should true justice use,
- your hands to bribes are bent.
-
- 3 The wicked sort from their birthday
- have erred on this wise:
- And from the mothers womb alway
- have used craft and lies.
-
- 4 In them the poison and the breath
- of serpents do appear:
- Yea, like the Adder that is deaf
- and fast doth stop her ear.
-
- 5 Because he will not hear the voice,
- of one that charmeth well:
- No though he were the chief of choice,
- and therein doth excel.
-
- 6 O God, break thou their teeth at once,
- within their mouths throughout,
- The tusks that in their great jaw bones,
- like Lions’ whelps hang out.
-
- 7 Let them consume away and waste,
- as water runs forthright,
- The shafts that they do shoot in haste,
- let them be broke in flight.
-
- 8 As Snails do waste within the shell,
- and unto slime do turn:
- As one before his time that fell,
- and never saw the Sun.
-
- 9 Before the thorns that now are young
- to bushes big shall grow:
- The storms of anger waxing strong,
- shall take them ere they know.
-
- 10 The just shall joy it doth them good,
- that God doth vengeance take:
- And they shall wash their feet in blood,
- of them that him forsake.
-
- 11 Then shall the world show forth and tell
- that good men have reward:
- And that a God on earth doth dwell,
- that justice doth regard.
