1 Please help me, Lord!

All who were faithful

and all who were loyal

have disappeared.

2 Everyone tells lies,

and no one is sincere.

3 Won't you chop off

all flattering tongues

that brag so loudly?

4 They say to themselves,

"We are great speakers.

No one else has a chance."

5 But you, Lord, tell them,

"I will do something!

The poor are mistreated

and helpless people moan.

I'll rescue all who suffer."

6 Our Lord, you are true

to your promises,

and your word is like silver

heated seven times

in a fiery furnace.*

7 You will protect us

and always keep us safe

from those people.

8 But all who are wicked

will keep on strutting,

while everyone praises

their shameless deeds.*