Psalms 12

1 To the Overseer, on the octave. — A Psalm of David. Save, Jehovah, for the saintly hath failed, For the stedfast have ceased From the sons of men:

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.

2 Vanity they speak each with his neighbour, Lip of flattery! With heart and heart they speak.

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

3 Jehovah doth cut off all lips of flattery, A tongue speaking great things,

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

4 Who said, 'By our tongue we do mightily: 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 Because of the spoiling of the poor, Because of the groaning of the needy, Now do I arise, saith Jehovah, I set in safety [him who] doth breathe for it.

“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.”

6 Sayings of Jehovah [are] pure sayings; Silver tried in a furnace of earth refined sevenfold.

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

7 Thou, O Jehovah, dost preserve them, Thou keepest us from this generation to the age.

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

8 Around the wicked walk continually, According as vileness is exalted by sons of men!

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