1To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, 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.
1To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith.[1] A Psalm of David. Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. (Isa 57:1; Mic 7:2)2Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. (1Ch 12:33; Ps 5:9; Ps 41:6; Ps 144:8; Jer 9:8; Ro 16:18; Jas 1:8)3May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, (Ps 12:2; Ps 17:10; Da 7:8; Re 13:5)4those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”5“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” (Ps 9:12; Ps 55:18; Ps 82:8; Isa 33:10)6The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. (Ps 18:30; Ps 19:8; Ps 119:140; Pr 30:5)7You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us[2] from this generation forever.8On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.