A New Version of the Psalms of David ‎#111

111. Speak, O ye Judges of the Earth

1 Speak, O ye Judges of the Earth,
if just your Sentence be;
Or must not Innocence appeal
to Heav'n, from your Decree?
2 Your wicked Hearts and Judgements are
alike by Malice sway'd;
Your griping Hands, by weighty Bribes,
to Violence betray'd.

3 To Virtue Strangers from the Womb,
their Infant Steps went wrong;
Thy prattled Slander, and in Lyes
employ'd their lisping Tongue.
4 No Serpent of parch'd Afric's Breed
does ranker Poison bear;
The drowsy Adder will as Soon
unlock his sullen Ear.

5 Unmov'd by good Advice, and deaf
as Adders they remain;
From whom the skilful Charmer's Voice
can no Attention gain.
6 Defeat, O God, their threat'ning Rage,
and timely break their Pow'r:
Disarm these growing Lions Jaws,
ere practis'd to devour.

7 Let now their Insolence, at Height,
like ebbing Tides be spent;
Their shiver'd Darts deceive their Aim,
when they their Bow have bent.
8 Like Snails, let them dissolve to Slime;
like hasty Births become,
Unworthy to behold the sun,
and dead within the womb.

9 Ere Thorns can make the Flesh-pots boil,
tempestuous Wrath shall come
From God, and snatch them hence alive
to their eternal Doom.
10 The Righteous shall rejoice to see
Their Crimes such Vengeance meet;
And Saints in Persecutors Blood
shall dip their harmless Feet.

11 Transgressors then with Grief shall see
Just Men Rewards obtain;
And own a God, whose Justice will
the guilty Earth arraign.

Text Information

• First Line: Speak, O ye Judges of the Earth
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1754
• Scripture:
  Psalm 58

Tune Information

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