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.

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

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

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

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

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

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