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.

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

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

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

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.”

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

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

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

1 ¶ To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.

3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us?

5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.

6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

1 a psalm of David, to be sung on eight strings.

2 Help, O Lord, the saints are diminished, and the faithful are few among the children of men.

3 One speaketh evil with another, and pretendeth, and teacheth out of a divided heart.

4 Let the LORD cut off all hypocrisy, and the tongue that speaketh proudly,

5 Who say, Let our tongue have the preeminence, and let us speak: who is our Lord?

6 Because the miserable are cast down, and the poor groan, I will arise, saith the LORD; and I will make a help to teach with confidence.

7 The word of the LORD is pure, as silver refined in an earthen vessel, proved seven times.

8 Thou, O LORD, wilt preserve them, and keep us from this generation for ever.

9 For it is filled with ungodly men everywhere, where such loose men rule among men.