New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
1 Help, O LORD, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!
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Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.
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Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.
3 May the LORD cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues.
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May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—
4 They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”
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those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
5 The LORD replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”
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“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 The LORD ’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.
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And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.
7 Therefore, LORD, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation,
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You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.
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who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.