For the Chief Musician; set to the Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh great things:

4 Who have said, with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5 For the spoiling of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety at whom they puff.

6 The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, purified seven times.

7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.