1 Help, O JEHOVAH now, because
the godly man doth cease,
And from among the sons of men
the faithful men decrease.
2 The most, now, to their neighbours speak
deceitful vanities;
With flatt'ring lips they smoothly speak,
with double hearts and lies.

3 But ev'ry flatt'ring lip the LORD
will cut off certainly;
And all proud tongues that utter forth
words boasting, great and high:
4 Who thus declare, 'We with out tongues
'prevailing pow'r will gain:
'Are not our lips our own? and who
'Lord* over us shall reign?'

5 For poor oppress'd and needy sighs,
the LORD says, now I'll rise,
And them in safety I will set
from those who them despise.
6 JEHOVAH's words are sords most pure;
they are as silver try'd
In earthen furnaces o'er fier,
and sev'n times purify'd.

7 JEHOVAH, thou wilt safely keep
the upright-hearted poor,
And from this generation them
preserve for evermore;
8 Tho' wicked walk on ev'ry side,
grow bold and multiply;
And vile ones by the sons of men
Exalted be on high.