Psalms 12

1 “For the leader of the music; to the octave. A psalm of David.” Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; The faithful are failing among men.

Yahweh, help us! [It seems that] people who are loyal to you have all vanished.

2 They speak falsehood one to another; With flattering lips, with a double heart, do they speak.

Everyone tells lies to other people; they deceive others by (flattering them/saying good things about them that they know are not true).

3 May the LORD destroy all flattering lips, And the tongue which speaketh proud things!

Yahweh, we wish that you would cut off their tongues so that they cannot continue to boast.

4 Who say, “With our tongues will we prevail; Our lips are our reliance; Who is lord over us?”

They say, “By telling lies we will get what we want; we control what we say [MTY], so no one can tell us what we should not do!”

5 For the oppression of the poor and the sighing of the wretched, Now will I stand up, saith the LORD; I will set in safety him whom they puff at.

But Yahweh replies, “I have seen the violent things that they have done to helpless people; and I have heard those people groaning, so I will arise and rescue the people who are wanting me to help them.”

6 The words of the LORD are pure; Like silver purified in a furnace on the earth, Seven times refined.

Yahweh, you always do what you have promised to do; what you have promised is [as precious and pure as] silver that has been heated seven times in a furnace [to get rid of all the] impure material.

7 Thou, O LORD! will watch over them; Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Wicked people strut around [proudly], and people praise them for doing vile/wicked deeds, but Yahweh, [we know that] you will protect/rescue us from those wicked people.

8 The wicked walk on every side, When the vilest of men are exalted.