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; set to the Sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Yahweh, for the godly have disappeared; the faithful have vanished.

2 They speake deceitfully euery one with his neighbour, flattering with their lips, and speake with a double heart.

Everyone says empty words to his neighbor; everyone speaks with flattering lips and a double heart.

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

Yahweh, cut off all flattering lips, every tongue declaring great things.

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

These are those who have said, “With our tongues will we prevail. When our lips speak, who can be master 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 violence against the poor, because of the groans of the needy, I will arise,” says Yahweh. “I will provide the safety for which they long.”

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

The words of Yahweh are pure words, like silver purified in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

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

You are Yahweh! You keep them. You preserve the godly people from this wicked generation and 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 evil is exalted among the children of mankind.