Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to Sheminith.(A) A psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the human race.[a](B)
They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.(C)
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks boastfully.(D)
They say, “Through our tongues we have power;
our lips are our own—who can be our master?” (E)

“Because of the devastation of the needy
and the groaning of the poor,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord.
“I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”(F)

The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
purified seven times.(G)

You, Lord, will guard us;[b]
you will protect us[c] from this generation forever.(H)
The wicked prowl[d] all around,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.(I)

Footnotes

  1. 12:1 Or the descendants of Adam, also in v. 8
  2. 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX, Jer; other Hb mss read them
  3. 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read him
  4. 12:8 Lit walk about

God, a Helper against the Treacherous.

For the choir director; [a]upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.

12 Help, Lord, for (A)the godly man ceases to be,
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
They (B)speak [b]falsehood to one another;
With (C)flattering [c]lips and with a double heart they speak.
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that (D)speaks great things;
Who (E)have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are [d]our own; who is lord over us?”
“Because of the (F)devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now (G)I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will (H)set him in the safety for which he longs.”

The (I)words of the Lord are pure words;
As silver (J)tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
You, O Lord, will keep them;
You will (K)preserve him from this generation forever.
The (L)wicked strut about on every side
When [e](M)vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 Or according to a lower octave (Heb Sheminith)
  2. Psalm 12:2 Or emptiness
  3. Psalm 12:2 Lit lip
  4. Psalm 12:4 Lit with us
  5. Psalm 12:8 Or worthlessness