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 him that excelleth upon the eight tune. A Psalme of Dauid. Helpe Lord, for there is not a godly man left: for the faithfull are fayled from among the children of men.

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

They speake deceitfully euery one with his neighbour, flattering with their lips, and speake with a double heart.

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

The Lord cut off all flattering lippes, and the tongue that speaketh proude things:

4 who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?"

Which haue saide, With our tongue will we preuaile: our lippes are our owne: who is Lord ouer vs?

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."

Now for the oppression of the needy, and for the sighes of the poore, I will vp, sayeth the Lord, and will set at libertie him, whom the wicked hath snared.

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

The wordes of the Lord are pure wordes, as the siluer, tried in a fornace of earth, fined seuen folde.

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

Thou wilt keepe them, O Lord: thou wilt preserue him from this generation for euer.

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

The wicked walke on euery side: when they are exalted, it is a shame for the sonnes of men.