³ May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(A)
    and every boastful tongue—^(B)
4 those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;^(C)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵ “Because the poor are plundered^(D) and the needy groan,^(E)
    I will now arise,^(F)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them^(G) from those who malign them.”
⁶ And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(H)
    like silver purified^(I) in a crucible,^(J)
    like gold^[a] refined seven times.

⁷ You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(K)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(L)
8 who freely strut^(M) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

⁸ They scoff, and speak with malice;^(A)
    with arrogance^(B) they threaten oppression.^(C)
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
¹⁰ Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.^[a]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

¹² This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care,^(D) they go on amassing wealth.^(E)

¹³ Surely in vain^(F) I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.^(G)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,^(H)
    and every morning brings new punishments.

¹⁵ If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
¹⁶ When I tried to understand^(I) all this,
    it troubled me deeply
¹⁷ till I entered the sanctuary^(J) of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.^(K)

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;^(L)
    you cast them down to ruin.^(M)
19 How suddenly^(N) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away^(O) by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream^(P) when one awakes;^(Q)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.^(R)

²¹ When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
²² I was senseless^(S) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast^(T) before you.

²³ Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.^(U)
24 You guide^(V) me with your counsel,^(W)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?^(X)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.^(Y)
26 My flesh and my heart^(Z) may fail,^(AA)
    but God is the strength^(AB) of my heart
    and my portion^(AC) forever.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;^(AD)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful^(AE) to you.
²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.^(AF)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;^(AG)
    I will tell of all your deeds.^(AH)