Psalms 12

1 To the chief Musician upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

[For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.] Help, LORD; for the faithful ceases. For the loyal have vanished from among the descendants of Adam.

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.

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

3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things:

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

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

who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?"

5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.

"Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says the LORD; "I will place in safety the one who longs for it."

6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

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

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

You, LORD, will protect us. You will guard us from this generation forever.

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

The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the descendants of Adam.