1
Help, O Lord , for the godly are fast disappearing!
The faithful have vanished from the earth!
2
Neighbors lie to each other,
speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
3
May the Lord cut off their flattering lips
and silence their boastful tongues.
4
They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content.
Our lips are our own - who can stop us?”
5
The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless,
and I have heard the groans of the poor.
Now I will rise up to rescue them,
as they have longed for me to do.”
6
The Lord ’s promises are pure,
like silver refined in a furnace,
purified seven times over.
7
Therefore, Lord , we know you will protect the oppressed,
preserving them forever from this lying generation,
8
even though the wicked strut about,
and evil is praised throughout the land.