To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.

1Help, LORD; for the Godly men are disappearing; for the faithful have vanished from among men. 2Neighbors lie to each other, speaking flattering words full of deceit. 3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks boastful words, 4Who have said, ‘With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?’

5‘For the oppression and plundering of the poor and for the sighing of the needy, I will now arise’, says the LORD; ‘I will set him in safety from him who threatens him’.

6The words of the LORD are pure; like silver tested in a furnace of earth, refined seven times. 7You shall keep the needy safe, O LORD; You shall preserve them from this wicked generation forever. 8The wicked strut about, when evil is praised throughout the land.