Psalms 12

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

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:

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

They each speak vanity with his neighbor, Lip of flattery! With heart and heart they speak.

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

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

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

Who said, “By our tongue we do mightily: 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 YHWH; "I will place in safety the one who longs for it."

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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