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:

To the chief Musician upon 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 vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

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

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and 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, With our tongue will we 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.

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 from him that puffeth at him.

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 furnace of earth, purified seven times.

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

Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them 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 the vilest men are exalted.