Psalms 12

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

To the chief Musician. Upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Save, Jehovah, for the godly man is gone; for the faithful have failed from among the children of men.

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

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lip, with a double heart, do they speak.

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

Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud 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 the LORD; "I will place in safety the one who longs for it."

Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set [him] in safety, at whom they puff.

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

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

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

Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them, thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

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

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