11 [12]

A Psalm of David

Save me, Lord God! For I am forced to contend with a godless

and unprincipled generation. Their lips are deceitful,

their hearts full of vanity, their tongues bent double

with lies. Truth has become rare among the sons of men.

May you, Lord God, bind up all their deceitful lips

and silence all tongues that speak empty, boastful words.

For these people take pride in their evil, shouting out to all

who will listen: “Our lips belong to us, not the Almighty!

If we wish to magnify our own importance, who will stop us?

Who is our master? No-one! Who is God? Nothing!”

Puffed up with their own vanity, these ungodly men

strut around, ignoring the misery of the poor

and the sighs of the needy.

“Now will I arise!” says the Lord God. “I shall rescue

the poor and the needy and set them in a place of safety.

And then I will deal openly with this wicked generation.”


Yes, you, Lord God, shall keep us secure from this godless

generation now and forever. Your words are like silver —

silver oracles of wisdom, purified seven times

in seven furnaces stoked with seven fires.

And, in accordance with your own greatness,

you will greatly exalt all the sons of men

who place all their hopes and trust in you.