Pernicious counsellors! give you
Sincere advice, to justice true?
Or virtue but in show pursue?

Your hearts are still on mischief bent,
Your hands impure and violent,
Nor favour truth, nor wrong prevent.

Ev'n from the womb they blindly stray,
Born and perverted in one day,
Lie, slander, flatter, and betray.

Like serpents with black poison swell,
And, charm th' enchanter ne'er so well,
More deaf than asps his charms repell.

Lord, slit their tongues before they speak,
Strike out their teeth which tear the weak,
And the young lions' grinders break.

As sun-beat snow so let them thaw,
And, when their weak'ned bows they draw,
Let their crack'd arrows fly like straw.

Let them like snails consume away,
And as untimely births decay,
Which never saw the cheerful day.

Before their pots can feel the brier,
God, in the whirlwind of his ire,
Shall blast alive, and burn with fire.

Sin with revenge at length shall meet,
The godly shall rejoice to see't,
And in their blood shall wash their feet.

Then erring mortals shall confess,
There are rewards for righteousness,
And plagues for such as do transgress.