Psalm 58

Pernicious Counsellors! Give you
Sincere advice? to Justice true?
Or Vertue but in show pursue?

Your Hearts are still on Mischiefe bent;
Your Hands impure and violent;
Nor favour Truth, nor Wrong prevent.

Even from the womb they blindly stray;
Borne, and perverted in one day;
Lie, slander, flatter, and betray:

Like Serpents, with black poyson swell;
And charme th'Inchanter ne're so well,
More deafe then Asps, his Charms repell.

Lord, slit their Tongues, before they speak;
Strike out their Teeth, which teare the Weak;
And the young Lions grinders break.

As Sun-beat Snow, so let them thaw;
And when their weakned Bowes they draw,
Let their crackt Arrowes flie like straw.

Let them like Snailes consume away;
And as untimely Births decay,
Which never saw the cheerful Day.

Before their pots can feele the brier,
God in the Whirl-wind of his Ire,
Shall blast alive, and burne with fire.

Sinne with Revenge at length shall meet;
The Godly shall rejoyce to see't;
And in their blood shall wash their feet.

Then erring Mortals shall confesse,
There are Rewards for Righteousnesse,
And Plagues for such as doe transgresse.