Psalms 12

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

For the chief music-maker on the Sheminith. A Psalm. Of David. Send help, Lord, for mercy has come to an end; there is no more faith among the children of men.

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

Everyone says false words to his neighbour: their tongues are smooth in their talk, and their hearts are full of deceit.

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

The smooth lips and the tongue of pride will be cut off by the Lord.

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

They have said, With our tongues will we overcome; our lips are ours: who is lord over us?

5 “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.”

Because of the crushing of the poor and the weeping of those in need, now will I come to his help, says the Lord; I will give him the salvation which he is desiring.

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

The words of the Lord are true words: like silver tested by fire and burned clean seven times.

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

You will keep them, O Lord, you will keep them safe from this generation for ever.

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

The sinners are walking on every side, and evil is honoured among the children of men.