To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1Help, LORD; for there is no longer any that is godly;

for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men.

2Every one utters lies to his neighbour;

with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,

the tongue that makes great boasts,

4those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,

our lips are with us; who is our master?”

5“Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,

I will now arise,” says the LORD;

“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

6The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure,

silver refined in a furnace on the ground,

purified seven times.

7Do thou, O LORD, protect us,

guard us ever from this generation.

8On every side the wicked prowl,

as vileness is exalted among the sons of men.