1 Ye rulers, that are put in trust

to judge of wrong and right,
Be all your judgments true and just,
regarding no man's might.

2 Nay, in your hearts ye daily muse
in mischief to consent;
And where ye should true justice use,
Your hands to bribes are bent.

3 The wicked sort from their birth-day
have erred on this wise,
And from their mother's womb alway
have used craft and lies.

4 In them the poison and the breath
of serpents doth appear;
Yea, like the adder that is deaf
and fast doth stop her ear;

5 Because she will not hear the voice
of one that charmeth well;
No, though he were the chief of choice,
and therein did excel.

6 The teeth O Lord, which fast are set
in their mouth round about,
The lions' teeth that are so great,
do thou, O Lord, break out.

7 Let them consume away and waste,
as water runs forth right;
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 run,
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,
Thy 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 shew forth and tell
that good men have reward,
And that a God on earth doth dwell,
Who justice doth regard.