Psalms 12

1 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:

For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They each speak vanity with his neighbor, Lip of flattery! With heart and heart they speak.

Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

3 YHWH cuts off all lips of flattery, A tongue speaking great things,

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

4 Who said, “By our tongue we do mightily: Our lips [are] our own; who [is] lord over us?”

who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”

5 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.

“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

6 Sayings of YHWH [are] pure sayings—Silver tried in a furnace of earth, refined sevenfold.

The LORD’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

7 You, O YHWH, preserve them, You keep us from this generation for all time.

You will keep them, LORD. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

8 The wicked walk around continually, According as vileness is exalted by sons of men!

The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.