Psalms 12

1 To him that excelleth upon the eight tune. A Psalme of Dauid. Helpe Lord, for there is not a godly man left: for the faithfull are fayled from among the children of men.

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.

2 They speake deceitfully euery one with his neighbour, flattering with their lips, and speake with a double heart.

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

3 The Lord cut off all flattering lippes, and the tongue that speaketh proude things:

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

4 Which haue saide, With our tongue will we preuaile: our lippes are our owne: who is Lord ouer vs?

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

5 Now for the oppression of the needy, and for the sighes of the poore, I will vp, sayeth the Lord, and will set at libertie him, whom the wicked hath snared.

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.

6 The wordes of the Lord are pure wordes, as the siluer, tried in a fornace of earth, fined seuen folde.

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

7 Thou wilt keepe them, O Lord: thou wilt preserue him from this generation for euer.

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

8 The wicked walke on euery side: when they are exalted, it is a shame for the sonnes of men.

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