Psalms 12

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

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