Psalms 12

1 To him that excelleth upon the eight tune. A Psalme of Dauid. Helpe Lord, for there is not a godly man left: for the faithfull are fayled 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 speake deceitfully euery one with his neighbour, flattering with their lips, and speake with a double heart.

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

3 The Lord cut off all flattering lippes, and the tongue that speaketh proude things:

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

4 Which haue saide, With our tongue will we preuaile: our lippes are our owne: who is Lord ouer vs?

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

5 Now for the oppression of the needy, and for the sighes of the poore, I will vp, sayeth the Lord, and will set at libertie him, whom the wicked hath snared.

"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 wordes of the Lord are pure wordes, as the siluer, tried in a fornace of earth, fined seuen folde.

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

7 Thou wilt keepe them, O Lord: thou wilt preserue him from this generation for euer.

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

8 The wicked walke on euery side: when they are exalted, it is a shame for the sonnes of men.

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