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

1Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth;

For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour:

With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips,

And the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail;

Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5For the oppression of the poor,

For the sighing of the needy,

Now will I arise, saith the LORD;

I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

6The words of the LORD are pure words:

As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD,

Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8The wicked walk on every side,

When the vilest men are exalted.