< 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.
For the leader; on the sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord, for the good are all gone, faithful people have vanished.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
One lies to another, speaking empty lies, with flattering lips and false hearts they speak.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,
May the Lord cut off all the flattering lips, and the tongue that utters arrogance,
4 who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”
they declare, “Our tongue is our strength, our allies our lips: 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.”
“The poor are despoiled, and the needy are sighing; so now I will act,” the Lord declares “And place them in the safety they long for.”
6 The LORD’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.
The words of the Lord are words that are pure, silver smelted, seven times refined.
7 You will keep them, LORD. You will preserve them from this generation forever.
You will keep us, Lord, and guard us from this generation forever,
8 The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
in a world where the wicked prowl, and worthless people exalted.

< Psalms 12 >