Psalms 12

1 To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail 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 speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.

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

3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things:

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

4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us?

they declare, ‘Our tongue is our strength, our allies our lips: who is lord over us?’

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 [from him that] puffeth at him.

‘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 words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

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

7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

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

8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

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