For the leader; on the sheminith. A psalm of David.
1 Help, Lord , for the good are all gone,
faithful people have vanished.
2 One lies to another, speaking empty lies,
with flattering lips and false hearts they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all the flattering lips,
and the tongue that utters arrogance,
4 they declare, “Our tongue is our strength,
our allies our lips: who is lord over us?”
5 “The poor are despoiled, and the needy are sighing;
so now I will act,” the Lord declares
“And place them in the safety they long for.”
6 The words of the Lord are words that are pure,
silver smelted, seven times refined.
7 You will keep us, Lord ,
and guard us from this generation forever,
8 in a world where the wicked prowl,
and worthless people exalted.