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 chief music-maker on the Sheminith. A Psalm. Of David. Send help, Lord, for mercy has come to an end; there is no more faith among the children of men.

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

Everyone says false words to his neighbour: their tongues are smooth in their talk, and their hearts are full of deceit.

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

The smooth lips and the tongue of pride will be cut off by the Lord.

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

They have said, With our tongues will we overcome; our lips are ours: 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, says the Lord, I will set [them] in safety; I will speak [to them] thereof openly.

Because of the crushing of the poor and the weeping of those in need, now will I come to his help, says the Lord; I will give him the salvation which he is desiring.

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 true words: like silver tested by fire and burned clean seven times.

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

You will keep them, O Lord, you will keep them safe from this generation for ever.

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

The sinners are walking on every side, and evil is honoured among the children of men.