Psalms 12

1 For the music director. To the Sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord, for all the good people have gone! Those who trust in you have disappeared from among the people on earth.

“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 Everyone lies to their neighbors. They flatter with nice talk, but they don't mean what they say.

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

3 Stop their flattery, Lord, and silence their boasts—

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

4 these people who say, “We will succeed through what we say; our mouths belong to us. We don't take orders from anyone!”

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

5 “Because of the violence the helpless have suffered, and because of the groans of the poor, I will rise up to defend them,” says the Lord. “I will give them the protection they have been longing for.”

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 What the Lord says is trustworthy, as pure as silver refined seven times in a furnace.

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

7 You, Lord will keep the oppressed safe; you will protect us from these kinds of people forever;

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

8 even though the wicked are all around us, and evil is being promoted everywhere.

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