² Help, Lord, for no one loyal remains;
    the faithful have vanished from the children of men.^(A)

²² Softer than butter is his speech,
    but war is in his heart.
Smoother than oil are his words,
    but they are unsheathed swords.^(A)

⁵ Even highly placed people
    plot to overthrow him.
They delight in lies;
    they bless with their mouths,
    but inwardly they curse.^(A)
Selah

²⁴ With their lips enemies pretend,
    but inwardly they maintain deceit;
²⁵ When they speak graciously, do not trust them,^(A)
    for seven abominations^[a] are in their hearts.
²⁶ Hatred can be concealed by pretense,
    but malice will be revealed in the assembly.^[b]
27 Whoever digs a pit falls into it;
    and a stone comes back upon the one who rolls it.^(B)
28 The lying tongue is its owner’s enemy,
    and the flattering mouth works ruin.