Psalms 12

1 For the chief musician; set to the Sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Yahweh, for the godly have disappeared; the faithful have vanished.

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

2 Everyone says empty words to his neighbor; everyone speaks with flattering lips and a double heart.

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

3 Yahweh, cut off all flattering lips, every tongue declaring great things.

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.

4 These are those who have said, “With our tongues will we prevail. When our lips speak, who can be master over us?”

They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”

5 “Because of violence against the poor, because of the groans of the needy, I will arise,” says Yahweh. “I will provide the safety for which they long.”

“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

6 The words of Yahweh are pure words, like silver purified in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

7 You are Yahweh! You keep them. You preserve the godly people from this wicked generation and forever.

You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.

8 The wicked walk on every side when evil is exalted among the children of mankind.

The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.