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

¶ Help, LORD; for the merciful man ceases, for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

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

Each one speaks vanity with his neighbour: they speak with flattering lips and with a double heart.

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

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks proud things:

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

Who have said, With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord 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.”

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise, saith the LORD; I will set in safety the one whom the wicked one has ensnared.

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

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

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

Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

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

The wicked press in on every side when the vilest men are exalted.