< Psalms 12 >
1 Help, Yhwh; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
TO THE OVERSEER. ON THE EIGHTH. A PSALM OF DAVID. Save, YHWH, for the saintly has failed, For the steadfast have ceased From the sons of men:
2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
They each speak vanity with his neighbor, Lip of flattery! With heart and heart they speak.
3 Yhwh shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
YHWH cuts off all lips of flattery, A tongue speaking great things,
4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
Who said, “By our tongue we do mightily: Our lips [are] our own; who [is] lord over us?”
5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Yhwh; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
Because of the spoiling of the poor, Because of the groaning of the needy, Now I arise, says YHWH, I set in safety [him who] breathes for it.
6 The words of Yhwh are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Sayings of YHWH [are] pure sayings—Silver tried in a furnace of earth, refined sevenfold.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O Yhwh, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
You, O YHWH, preserve them, You keep us from this generation for all time.
8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
The wicked walk around continually, According as vileness is exalted by sons of men!