PSALM LVIII.

George Burgess

E'en from the birth the wicked stray,
And lies are on their earliest breath:
A poison tracks their slimy way,
So bears the serpent pois'nous death.

So the deaf adder shuts her ear,
And on, her path of murder winds;
The charmer's voice she will not hear,
How wise so e'er the charm he binds.

Break thou, O God, the lion's jaw;
Break the young lions' rav'nous teeth:
And while their bows the guilty draw,
Cast down the blunted shafts beneath.

Waste thou their strength as waters glide,
As melts the snail along the earth;
As, ere the light of life it ey'd,
Has fall'n the mother's timeless birth.

Before the thorns have felt the fire,
Before the impious feast is warm,
The Lord shall pour his righteous ire,
And strew them on its whirlwind storm.

The just shall joy where vengeance sweeps,
And wash in impious gore his feet;
And men shall cry, 'yes, well he reaps;
Yes, God has still a judgment seat.'