To the Chief Musician.
On an eight-stringed harp.
A Psalm of David.
1. Save, Yahweh, for the godly one ceases,
For the faithful ones vanish from among the sons of man.
2. Vanity they speak, everyone with his neighbor.
With a lip of flatteries, with heart and heart they speak.
3. May Yahweh cut off all the lips of flatteries,
the tongue that speaks great things,
4. "With our tongue we will prevail.
Our lips are with us. Who is lord over us?"
5. "Because of the destruction of the afflicted ones,
because of the groaning of the needy ones,
Now I will arise," Yahweh will say,
"I will set in the safety for which he yearns."
6. The statements of Yahweh are pure statements,
Silver refined in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.
7. You, Yahweh, will keep them.
You will preserve them from this generation to forever.
8. On every side the wicked ones walk
When vileness is exalted to the sons of man.
This psalm is for times like our own, when wickedness prevails and godly people are few and growing fewer. Then the wicked think that their proud philosophies and their wicked practices will bring an end to those who want to live righteously.
But they do not reckon with the Lord who promises that he will arise to cut off lips of flatteries, defend the afflicted and needy, and provide safety. His words are pure, purified like silver passed through the refining fire seven times. We can rely on them. He will keep the godly forever. Not one of them will perish.
This God did for his Son when the Jews and Gentiles, with Herod and Pontius Pilate gathered against him and took counsel to destroy him. And this Our Lord Jesus Christ, now exalted to the right hand of his Father, will do for all who are his today.