Psalms 12

1 “To the chief musician upon Sheminith, a psalm of David.” Help, O Lord; for the pious have ceased to be; for the truthful have failed from among the children of men.

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.

2 Deceptively do they speak every one with his neighbor, with flattering lips, with a double heart do they speak.

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

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh boastful things:

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

4 Who have said, With our tongue will we be mighty; our lips are with us; who is Lord over us!

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

5 Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord: I will grant safety to him for whom the other layeth a snare.

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.

6 The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver refined in the crucible of earth, purified seven times.

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

7 Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve them; thou wilt guard them from this generation for ever.

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

8 On every side do the wicked walk about, when the vile are exalted over the sons of man.

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