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 choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

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

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and 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 every boastful tongue.

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

They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”

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.

“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

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

The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

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

You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.

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

The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.