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 amongst the children of men.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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.”

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 flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

7 You, O Lord, shall keep us, and shall preserve us, from this generation, and for ever.

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

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

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