Psalms 12

1 For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

To the chief Musician. Upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Save, Jehovah, for the godly man is gone; for the faithful have failed from among the children of men.

2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lip, with a double heart, do they speak.

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.

Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things,

4 They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail, our lips are our own: who [is] lord over us?

5 “For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set [him] in safety, at whom they puff.

6 The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

The words of Jehovah are pure words, silver tried in the furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.

Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them, thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.

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