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.

HELP, Lord; 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 vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

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

The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud 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.”

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 from him that puffeth at him.

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

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

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

Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt 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 the vilest men are exalted.