\s5 \c 12 \p \d A psalm written by David for the choir director \b \q1 \v 1 Yahweh, help us! It seems like people who honor you are no more, \q2 that those who are loyal to you have all vanished. \s5 \q1 \v 2 Everyone tells lies to other people; \q2 they deceive others by flattering them, but they tell lies. \b \q1 \v 3 Yahweh, we wish that you would cut off their tongues \q2 so that they cannot continue to boast. \q1 \v 4 They say, "By telling lies we will get what we want; \q2 we control what we say, so no one can tell us what we should do!" \b \s5 \q1 \v 5 But Yahweh replies, "I have seen the violent things that they have done to helpless people; \q2 I have heard those people groaning, \q2 so I will arise and rescue the people who are wanting me to help them." \b \s5 \q1 \v 6 Yahweh, you always do what you have promised to do; \q2 what you have promised is as precious and pure as silver \q2 that has been heated seven times in a furnace to get rid of all the impure material. \b \q1 \v 7 Yahweh, we know that you will protect us who honor you \q2 from those wicked people, \q2 \v 8 those who strut around proudly, \q2 while people praise them for doing evil deeds.