The Godly Are No More

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

¹ Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more;

the faithful have vanished from among men.

² They lie to one another;

they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

³ May the LORD cut off all flattering lips

and every boastful tongue.

⁴ They say, “With our tongues we will prevail.

We own our lips— who can be our master?”

⁵ “For the cause of the oppressed

and for the groaning of the needy,

I will now arise,” says the LORD.

“I will bring safety^* to him who yearns.”^*

⁶ The words of the LORD are flawless^*,

like silver refined in a furnace,

like gold purified sevenfold.

⁷ You, O LORD, will keep us;

You will forever guard us from this generation.

⁸ The wicked wander freely,

and vileness is exalted among men.