1 H elp, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Help, Lord! For principled and godly people are here no more; faithfulness and the faithful vanish from among the sons of men.

2 E veryone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

To his neighbor each one speaks words without use or worth or truth; with flattering lips and double heart they speak.

3 M ay Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongues that speak proud boasting,

4 w ho have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”

Those who say, With our tongues we prevail; our lips are our own —who is lord and master over us?

5 “ Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

Now will I arise, says the Lord, because the poor are oppressed, because of the groans of the needy; I will set him in safety and in the salvation for which he pants.

6 Y ahweh’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.

7 Y ou will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

You will keep them and preserve them, O Lord; You will guard and keep us from this generation forever.

8 T he wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

The wicked walk or prowl about on every side, as vileness is exalted among the sons of men.