Psalms 12

1 [For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.] Help, Jehovah; for the faithful ceases. For the loyal have vanished from among the descendants of Adam.

Help, Jehovah, for the holy man ceases, for the faithful fail from among the sons of men.

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

They speak falsehood everyone with his neighbor. With flattering lip, and with a double heart, they speak.

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

Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks great things,

4 who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail. 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 oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says Jehovah; "I will place in safety the one who longs for it."

Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, now I will arise, says Jehovah. I will set him in the safety he gasps for.

6 The words of Jehovah are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

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

7 You, Jehovah, will protect us. You will guard us from this generation forever.

Thou will keep them, O Jehovah. Thou will preserve them from this generation forever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the descendants of Adam.

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