Psalms 12

1 For the leader; on the sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord, for the good are all gone, faithful people have vanished.

For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from amongst the children of men.

2 One lies to another, speaking empty lies, with flattering lips and false hearts they speak.

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

3 May the Lord cut off all the flattering lips, and the tongue that utters arrogance,

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

4 they declare, ‘Our tongue is our strength, our allies our lips: who is lord over us?’

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

5 ‘The poor are despoiled, and the needy are sighing; so now I will act,’ the Lord declares ‘And place them in the safety they long for.’

“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

6 The words of the Lord are words that are pure, silver smelted, seven times refined.

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

7 You will keep us, Lord, and guard us from this generation forever,

You will keep them, LORD. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

8 in a world where the wicked prowl, and worthless people exalted.

The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted amongst the sons of men.