Justice on earth is not justice any more, Lord. Men and women have corrupted their ways, and those who had to take your place to settle disputes and bring peace among their fellow humans, have betrayed their trust and have yielded to the common tide of self-interest before impartial justice. The courts of liberation have at times become the quarters of oppression. The poor seek redress in the halls of justice, and their burden increases when they seek to be delivered from it. Humankind suffers from lack of honesty in those who should exhibit it most.

‘How long will you judge unjustly
and show favour to the wicked?
You ought to give judgement for the weak and the orphan,
and see right done to the destitute and downtrodden;
you ought to rescue the weak and the poor,
and save them from the clutches of wicked men.
But you know nothing, you understand nothing,
you walk in the dark while earth’s foundations are giving way.’

For the sake of the oppressed I pray for justice, Lord. Give courage to your judges, make them recognise innocence and denounce guilt, and deliver their sentence without fear. Make them give confidence to your people and kindle a ray of hope in a society that has lost its sense of fairness and equity. Let there be justice on earth, as a sign and pledge of your divine justice in heaven.

And to that end, Lord, let my life be just and fair in my thoughts and in my deeds. Let my conscience be stirred whenever I read in the papers or see on television that the mighty on earth abuse of their power, the politicians misuse their politics, and the leaders pervert their leadership. Let all do their duty to all, and let me do also my duty to help awake in society the conscience that will save the world.

‘Arise, O God, and judge the earth;
for you pass all nations through your sieve.’