Psalms 12

1 For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

For the Chief Musician; set to the Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, Jehovah; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.

Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;

4 They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”

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

5 “For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will set him in the safety he panteth for.

6 The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

The words of Jehovah are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times.

7 You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.

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

8 The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.

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