Psalms 12
1 Yahweh, help us! [It seems that] people who are loyal to you have all vanished.
Help, Yhwh; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2 Everyone tells lies to other people; they deceive others by (flattering them/saying good things about them that they know are not true).
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
3 Yahweh, we wish that you would cut off their tongues so that they cannot continue to boast.
Yhwh shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4 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!”
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
5 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.”
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Yhwh; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
6 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.
The words of Yhwh are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 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.
Thou shalt keep them, O Yhwh, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
