Psalms 12

1 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 among the children of men.

“To the chief musician upon Sheminith, a psalm of David.” Help, O Lord; for the pious have ceased to be; for the truthful have failed from among the children of men.

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

Deceptively do they speak every one with his neighbor, with flattering lips, with a double heart do they speak.

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

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh boastful things:

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

Who have said, With our tongue will we be mighty; our lips are with us; who is Lord over us!

5 “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.”

Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord: I will grant safety to him for whom the other layeth a snare.

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

The words of the Lord are pure words, as silver refined in the crucible of earth, purified seven times.

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

Thou, O Lord, wilt preserve them; thou wilt guard them from this generation for ever.

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

On every side do the wicked walk about, when the vile are exalted over the sons of man.