O you self-righteous judge
Draped in the mantles of heavy justice
Why pass judgment and declare sentence
Slam your hammer and close the case
When all you have is hearsay
Even from the horse’s mouth
When all you have is but one side
Of a case you know little about?
Are you not sworn to uphold justice
To balance the scales of truth before passing judgment?
O you self-righteous judge
Did you see the fire ignited by the plaintiff
In the heart of your guilty defendant?
Did you see your victorious plaintiff
Gleefully add the fuel and gloat
At the cruel cackling of the senseless flames
As they consumed the defendant’s heart?
Were you there
Did you hear your plaintiff call
The defendant’s mother unspeakable names?
Did you see your plaintiff plant
The seeds of discord in the house?
Were you there
Did you see your plaintiff deny
The defendant his rightful share?
Did you see your plaintiff steal
The possible future from the past
By opting for separate ways?
O you self-righteous judge
Draped in the mantles of heavy justice
You are sworn to uphold the sacred law
How then can you self-righteously pass judgment
Deliver sentence with total confidence
When all you have is hearsay
Even from the horse’s mouth
When all you have is but one side
Of a case you know little about?
O you self-righteous judge
Draped in the mantles of heavy justice
Sworn to uphold the sacred law
You know little about this complex case
Yet declare judgment and close the case
You lay praise here and damnation there
Is that your version of Holy Justice
To deliver sentence on mere hearsay?
To utter calumny on innocent beings?
O you self-righteous judge
Draped in the mantles of heavy justice
Sworn to uphold the sacred law
Should you not get the facts before you judge
Should you not hear the other side
Before clapping your hands and passing sentence
In a case you know little about?
Beware injustice or self-righteous judge
For as you judge
You shall be judged
Apologize before the day
When you shall have to render account
O you self-righteous judge!