Psalms 12

1 For the end, A Psalm of David, upon the eighth. Save me, O Lord; for the godly man has failed; for truth is diminished from among the children of men.

“For the leader of the music; to the octave. A psalm of David.” Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; The faithful are failing among men.

2 Every one has spoken vanity to his neighbour: their lips are deceitful, they have spoken with a double heart.

They speak falsehood one to another; With flattering lips, with a double heart, do they speak.

3 Let the Lord destroy all the deceitful lips, and the tongue that speaks great words:

May the LORD destroy all flattering lips, And the tongue which speaketh proud things!

4 who have said, We will magnify our tongue; our lips are our own: who is Lord of us?

Who say, “With our tongues will we prevail; Our lips are our reliance; Who is lord over us?”

5 Because of the misery of the poor, and because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord, I will set [them] in safety; I will speak [to them] thereof openly.

For the oppression of the poor and the sighing of the wretched, Now will I stand up, saith the LORD; I will set in safety him whom they puff at.

6 The oracles of the Lord are pure oracles; as silver tried in the fire, proved [in] a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

The words of the LORD are pure; Like silver purified in a furnace on the earth, Seven times refined.

7 Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us, and shalt preserve us, from this generation, and for ever.

Thou, O LORD! will watch over them; Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The ungodly walk around: according to thy greatness thou has greatly exalted the sons of men.

The wicked walk on every side, When the vilest of men are exalted.