Psalms 12

1 Unto the end. For the octave. A Psalm of David. Save me, O Lord, because holiness has passed away, because truths have been diminished, before the sons of men.

To the chief Musician. Upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Save, Jehovah, for the godly man is gone; for the faithful have failed from among the children of men.

2 They have been speaking emptiness, each one to his neighbor; they have been speaking with deceitful lips and a duplicitous heart.

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lip, with a double heart, do they speak.

3 May the Lord scatter all deceitful lips, along with the tongue that speaks malice.

Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things,

4 They have said: “We will magnify our tongue; our lips belong to us. What is Lord to us?”

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail, our lips are our own: who [is] lord over us?

5 Because of the misery of the destitute and the groaning of the poor, now I will arise, says the Lord. I will place him in safety. I will act faithfully toward him.

Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set [him] in safety, at whom they puff.

6 The eloquence of the Lord is pure eloquence, silver tested by fire, purged from the earth, refined seven times.

The words of Jehovah are pure words, silver tried in the furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 You, O Lord, will preserve us, and you will guard us from this generation into eternity.

Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them, thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The impious wander aimlessly. According to your loftiness, you have multiplied the sons of men.

The wicked walk about on every side, when vileness is exalted among the children of men.