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The Orphic Hymns
the Orphic tradition · Hymn 62, lines 4–5 · Weight and balance
62.4
The Orphic Hymns 62.4 · Weight and balance
Justice falls heavily on the unjust, and brings unlike things together by the rule of equality.
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a
δικαίη1
dikaíē
just
τιμωρὸς2
timōròs
avenger
τοῖς3
toîs
to the
ἀδίκοις4
adíkois
unjust
, ἐπιβρίθουσα5
epibríthousa
falling heavilyweighing down
on them
,συνάγουσʼ6
synágous’
bringing together
ἀνόμοια7
anómoia
unlike things
ἀληθείῃ8
alētheíēi
by truth
, ἐξ9
ex
on the basis of
ἰσότητος10
isótētos
equality
; a just avenger to the unjust, falling heavily on them, bringing together unlike things by truth, on the basis of equality;
a just avenger to the unjust, falling heavily on them, bringing together unlike things by truth, on the basis of equality;
Interpretation
a just avenger to the unjust, falling heavily upon them, bringing unlike things together by truth, on the basis of equality;
Two pictures of justice stand side by side. The first is weight. Epibrithō, "to fall heavily," is the verb Homer uses for the rain of Zeus coming down hard, and Justice comes down that way on the unjust. The second is balance: she joins things that are unlike, and she does it ex isotētos, "from equality," the idea Greek thinkers kept at the center of justice. Aristotle put it plainly, that if the unjust is unequal, the just is equal. The next hymn uses the same phrase in its second line.
62.6
The Orphic Hymns 62.6 · Those who want the larger share
Where evil plans and greed make right and wrong hard to judge, Justice alone steps in against the unjust.
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For all things that are carried along by evil thoughts among mortals who want the larger share with unjust plans, hard to judge, you alone, stepping in, rouse justice against the unjust; hostile to the unjust, but kindly you keep company with the just.