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 leader; on the sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord, for the good are all gone, faithful people have vanished.

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

One lies to another, speaking empty lies, with flattering lips and false hearts they speak.

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

May the Lord cut off all the flattering lips, and the tongue that utters arrogance,

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

they declare, “Our tongue is our strength, our allies our lips: 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.”

“The poor are despoiled, and the needy are sighing; so now I will act,” the Lord declares “And place them in the safety they long for.”

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

The words of the Lord are words that are pure, silver smelted, seven times refined.

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

You will keep us, Lord, and guard us from this generation forever,

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

in a world where the wicked prowl, and worthless people exalted.