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.

For the Leader; on the Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail 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, and with a double heart, do they speak.

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

May the LORD 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: 'Our tongue will we make mighty; our lips are with us: 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.

'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise', saith the LORD; '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 the LORD are pure words, as silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times.

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

Thou wilt keep them, O LORD; Thou wilt preserve us from this generation for ever.

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

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