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 Leader; on the Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

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

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour; with flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

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

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things!

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

Who have said: 'Our tongue will we make mighty; our lips are with us: 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.”

'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 at whom they puff.'

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 pure words, as silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times.

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

Thou wilt keep them, O LORD; Thou wilt preserve us from this generation for ever.

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

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