Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to •Sheminith.a A Davidic psalm.

1Help, LORD, for no faithful one remains;

the loyal have disappeared from the •human race.b

2They lie to one another;

they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.c

3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips

and the tongue that speaks boastfully.d

4They say, “Through our tongues we have power;e

our lips are our own — who can be our master? ”f

5“Because of the oppression of the afflicted

and the groaning of the poor,

I will now rise up,” says the LORD.

“I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place.”g

6The words of the LORD are pure words,

like silver refined in an earthen furnace,

purified seven times.h

7You, LORD, will guard us;i

You will protect usj from this generation forever.k

8The wicked wanderl everywhere,

and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.m