The Psalms of David ‎#LVIII

LVIII. Speak, O ye Judges of the Earth

1 Speak, O ye Judges of the Earth,
If just and right your Sentence be;
Or must not Innocence at last,
Appeal to Heav'n from your Decree?
Your wicked Hearts and Judgements are,
By Malice most unjustly sway'd;
Your griping Hands, by weighty Bribes,
Are still to Violence betray'd.

2 To Virtue Strangers from the Womb,
Their Infant Steps went always wrong;
Thy prattled Slander, and in Lies
Employ'd at first their infant Tongue.
No Serpent, of parch'd Afric's Breed,
Did ever ranker Poison bear;
The drowsy Adder will as soon,
Unlock to Truth his sullen Ear.

3 Unmov'd by good Advice, and deaf
As stupid Adders they remain,
From whom the skillful Charmer's Voice,
Can by no Means Attention gain.
Defeat, O GOD, their threat'ning Rage,
And timely break their growing Pow'r:
Do thou disarm these Lions' Jaws,
Before they're practis'd to devour.

4 Let now their Insolence, at Height,
Like ebbing Tides, be quickly spent;
Their shiver'd Darts deceive their Aim,
When they their warlike Bows have bent.
Like Snails, let them dissolve to Slime,
Let them like hasty Births become;
Unworthy to behold the Sun,
Let them be dead within the Womb.

5 E'er Thorns can make the Flesh-pot boil,
Tempestuous Wrath shall quickly come
From GOD, and snatch them hence alive,
To their eternal dismal Doom.
The Righteous shall rejoice to see,
Their daring Crimes such Vengeance meet,
And Saints in Persecutors' Blood
Shall safely dip their harmless Feet.

6 Transgressors then with Grief shall see,
The Righteous due Rewards obtain,
And own a GOD, whose Justice will,
Or soon, or late the Earth arraign.

Text Information

• First Line: Speak, O ye Judges of the Earth
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1767
• Scripture:
  Psalm 58
• Topic: Description of: Unjust Judges; Prophecies: Prophetical Curses against the Enemies and Persecutors of the Chruch

Tune Information

• Name: [Speak, O ye Judges of the Earth]
• Key: F Major