Psalms 12

1 For the Chief Musician; set to the Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

[For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.] Help, LORD; for the faithful ceases. For the loyal have vanished from among the descendants of Adam.

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh great things:

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

4 Who have said, with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?"

5 For the spoiling of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety at whom they puff.

"Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD; "I will place in safety the one who longs for it."

6 The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, purified seven times.

The words of the LORD are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

You, LORD, will protect us. You will guard us from this generation forever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the descendants of Adam.