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 Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from amongst the children of men.

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

Everyone lies to his neighbour. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

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

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

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 we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord 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.”

“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

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

The LORD’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

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

You will keep them, LORD. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

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

The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted amongst the sons of men.