Psalms 12

1 For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

1 Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

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

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.

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

4 They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”

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

5 “For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

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.”

6 The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

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

7 You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.

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

8 The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.

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