Psalms 12

1 “To the chief musician upon Sheminith, a psalm of David.” Help, O Lord; for the pious have ceased to be; for the truthful have failed from among the children of 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 Deceptively do they speak every one with his neighbor, with flattering lips, with a double heart do they speak.

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, the tongue that speaketh boastful things:

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

4 Who have said, With our tongue will we be mighty; our lips are with us; who is Lord over us!

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

5 Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord: I will grant safety to him for whom the other layeth a snare.

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 pure words, as silver refined in the crucible of earth, purified seven times.

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

7 Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve them; thou wilt guard them from this generation for ever.

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

8 On every side do the wicked walk about, when the vile are exalted over the sons of man.

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