1 For the director of music. For sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord! Those who do what is right are gone. Those who are faithful have disappeared from the earth.

2 Everyone tells lies to his neighbors. With his lips he praises others, but he doesn't really mean it.

3 May the Lord cut off all lips that don't mean what they say. May he cut out every tongue that brags.

4 They say, "We will win the battle with our tongues. Our lips belong to us. No one else is in charge of us."

5 The Lord says, "The weak are beaten down. Those who are in need groan. So I will stand up to help them. I will keep them safe from those who tell lies about them."

6 The words of the Lord are perfect. They are like silver made pure in a clay furnace. They are like silver made pure seven times over.

7 Lord, you will keep us safe. You will always keep sinners from hurting us.

8 Proud and sinful people walk around openly when the evil they do is praised by others.