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.

For the leader; on the sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord, for the good are all gone, faithful people have vanished.

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

One lies to another, speaking empty lies, with flattering lips and false hearts they speak.

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

May the Lord cut off all the flattering lips, and the tongue that utters arrogance,

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

they declare, ‘Our tongue is our strength, our allies our lips: who is lord over 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.

‘The poor are despoiled, and the needy are sighing; so now I will act,’ the Lord declares ‘And place them in the safety they long for.’

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

The words of the Lord are words that are pure, silver smelted, seven times refined.

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

You will keep us, Lord, and guard us from this generation forever,

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

in a world where the wicked prowl, and worthless people exalted.