25  ^oMy soul clings to the dust;

^pgive me life ^qaccording to your word!

26  When I told of my ways, you answered me;

teach me your statutes!

27  ^rMake me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will meditate ^son your wondrous works.

28  My soul melts away for sorrow;

strengthen me according to your word!

29  Put false ways far from me

and graciously teach me your law!

30  I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I set your rules before me.

31  I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;

^tlet me not be put to shame!

32  I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart!¹

1  Save, O Lord, for ^rthe godly one is gone;

for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.

2  Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;

with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

3  May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,

^sthe tongue that makes great boasts,

4  those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,

our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

5  “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,

I will now arise,” says the Lord;

“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

6  ^tThe words of the Lord are pure words,

^ulike silver refined in a furnace on the ground,

purified seven times.

7  You, O Lord, will keep them;

you will guard us² from this generation forever.

8  On every side the wicked prowl,

as vileness is exalted among the children of man.