1To the Chief Musician upon sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. 2They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things: 4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? 5For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, says the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that sneers at him. 6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tested in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7You shall keep them, O LORD, you shall preserve them from this generation forever. 8The wicked prowl on every side, when vile men are exalted.