Psalms 12

1 To the chief Musician upon 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; set to the Sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Yahweh, for the godly have disappeared; the faithful have vanished.

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.

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

3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things:

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

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

These are those who have said, “With our tongues will we prevail. When our lips speak, who can be master over us?”

5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.

“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 words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

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

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

You are Yahweh! You keep them. You preserve the godly people from this wicked generation and forever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

The wicked walk on every side when evil is exalted among the children of mankind.