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 Leader; on the Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; 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.

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour; with flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

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

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things!

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

Who have said: 'Our tongue will we make mighty; our lips are with us: 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.

'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 at whom they puff.'

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

The words of the LORD are pure words, as silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times.

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

Thou wilt keep them, O LORD; Thou wilt preserve us from this generation for ever.

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

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