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.

To him that excelleth upon the eight tune. A Psalme of Dauid. Helpe Lord, for there is not a godly man left: for the faithfull are fayled from among the children of men.

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

They speake deceitfully euery one with his neighbour, flattering with their lips, and speake with a double heart.

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

The Lord cut off all flattering lippes, and the tongue that speaketh proude things:

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

Which haue saide, With our tongue will we preuaile: our lippes are our owne: who is Lord ouer vs?

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.”

Now for the oppression of the needy, and for the sighes of the poore, I will vp, sayeth the Lord, and will set at libertie him, whom the wicked hath snared.

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

The wordes of the Lord are pure wordes, as the siluer, tried in a fornace of earth, fined seuen folde.

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

Thou wilt keepe them, O Lord: thou wilt preserue him from this generation for euer.

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

The wicked walke on euery side: when they are exalted, it is a shame for the sonnes of men.