1 Help, Lord, for the good are all gone, faithful people have vanished.
2 One lies to another, speaking empty lies, with flattering lips and false hearts they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all the flattering lips, and the tongue that utters arrogance,
4 they declare, “Our tongue is our strength, our allies our lips: who is lord over us?”
5 “The poor are despoiled, and the needy are sighing; so now I will act,” the Lord declares “And place them in the safety they long for.”
6 The words of the Lord are words that are pure, silver smelted, seven times refined.
7 You will keep us, Lord, and guard us from this generation forever,
8 in a world where the wicked prowl, and worthless people exalted.