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.

Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases; for the faithful fail 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 speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

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

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things:

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

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

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.

For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, says the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffs at him.

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

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

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

You shall keep them, O LORD, you shall preserve them from this generation for ever.

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

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