< Psalms 12 >
1 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.
To the victorie on the eiyte, the song of Dauid. Lord, make thou me saaf, for the hooli failide; for treuthis ben maad litle fro the sones of men.
2 They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour; with flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.
Thei spaken veyn thingis, ech man to hys neiybore; thei han gileful lippis, thei spaken in herte and herte.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things!
The Lord destrie alle gileful lippis; and the greet spekynge tunge.
4 Who have said: 'Our tongue will we make mighty; our lips are with us: who is lord over us?'
Whiche seiden, We schulen magnyfie oure tunge, our lippis ben of vs; who is oure lord?
5 '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.'
For the wretchednesse of nedy men, and for the weilyng of pore men; now Y schal ryse vp, seith the Lord. I schal sette inhelt he; Y schal do tristili in hym.
6 The words of the LORD are pure words, as silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times.
The spechis of the Lord ben chast spechis; siluer examynyd bi fier, preued fro erthe, purgid seuen fold.
7 Thou wilt keep them, O LORD; Thou wilt preserve us from this generation for ever.
Thou, Lord, schalt kepe vs; and thou `schalt kepe vs fro this generacioun with outen ende.
8 The wicked walk on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
Wickid men goen in cumpas; bi thin hiynesse thou hast multiplied the sones of men.