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.

Help, YHWH; for the righteous man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

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

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

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

YHWH shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

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

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is master over us?

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

The words of YHWH are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

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

Thou shalt keep them, O YHWH, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

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

The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.