Psalmorum 12

1 In finem pro octava, Psalmus David. Salvum me fac Domine, quoniam defecit sanctus: quoniam diminutæ sunt veritates a filiis hominum.

For the music director. To the Sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord, for all the good people have gone! Those who trust in you have disappeared from among the people on earth.

2 Vana locuti sunt unusquisque ad proximum suum: labia dolosa, in corde et corde locuti sunt.

Everyone lies to their neighbors. They flatter with nice talk, but they don't mean what they say.

3 Disperdat Dominus universa labia dolosa, et linguam magniloquam.

Stop their flattery, Lord, and silence their boasts—

4 Qui dixerunt: Linguam nostram magnificabimus, labia nostra a nobis sunt, quis noster Dominus est?

these people who say, “We will succeed through what we say; our mouths belong to us. We don't take orders from anyone!”

5 Propter miseriam inopum, et gemitum pauperum nunc exurgam, dicit Dominus. Ponam in salutari: fiducialiter agam in eo.

“Because of the violence the helpless have suffered, and because of the groans of the poor, I will rise up to defend them,” says the Lord. “I will give them the protection they have been longing for.”

6 Eloquia Domini, eloquia casta: argentum igne examinatum, probatum terræ purgatum septuplum.

What the Lord says is trustworthy, as pure as silver refined seven times in a furnace.

7 Tu Domine servabis nos: et custodies nos a generatione hac in æternum.

You, Lord will keep the oppressed safe; you will protect us from these kinds of people forever;

8 In circuitu impii ambulant: secundum altitudinem tuam multiplicasti filios hominum.

even though the wicked are all around us, and evil is being promoted everywhere.