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.

Unto the end. For the octave. A Psalm of David. Save me, O Lord, because holiness has passed away, because truths have been diminished, before the sons of men.

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

They have been speaking emptiness, each one to his neighbor; they have been speaking with deceitful lips and a duplicitous heart.

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

May the Lord scatter all deceitful lips, along with the tongue that speaks malice.

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

They have said: “We will magnify our tongue; our lips belong to us. What is Lord to 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 misery of the destitute and the groaning of the poor, now I will arise, says the Lord. I will place him in safety. I will act faithfully toward him.

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

The eloquence of the Lord is pure eloquence, silver tested by fire, purged from the earth, refined seven times.

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

You, O Lord, will preserve us, and you will guard us from this generation into eternity.

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

The impious wander aimlessly. According to your loftiness, you have multiplied the sons of men.