Psalms 12

1 For the leader; on the sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord, for the good are all gone, faithful people have vanished.

2 One lies to another, speaking empty lies, with flattering lips and false hearts they speak.

3 May the Lord cut off all the flattering lips, and the tongue that utters arrogance,

4 they declare, ‘Our tongue is our strength, our allies our lips: who is lord over us?’

5 ‘The poor are despoiled, and the needy are sighing; so now I will act,’ the Lord declares ‘And place them in the safety they long for.’

6 The words of the Lord are words that are pure, silver smelted, seven times refined.

7 You will keep us, Lord, and guard us from this generation forever,

8 in a world where the wicked prowl, and worthless people exalted.