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

Salmo de David. Para o diretor do coro.

12 Socorre-nos, Senhor!
Porque os homens piedosos estão a desaparecer!
São poucos os que te são fiéis, entre os humanos.
Cada um procura enganar o seu próximo;
são lisonjeiros e falam sem sinceridade.

O Senhor castigará os que falam com adulação e altivamente;
os que dizem: “Continuarei a falar como me apetecer.
A boca é minha. Quem pode governar sobre nós?”

E o Senhor responde:
“Eu me levantarei para defender os pobres da opressão,
para fazer calar os gemidos dos infelizes.
Darei salvação aos que suspiram por ela.”
A palavra do Senhor é pura;
é tão verdadeira como a prata refinada no forno sete vezes.

Tu guardarás para sempre os que são teus, Senhor,
fora do alcance e da influência desta geração maligna.
Gente perversa aparece por toda a parte;
as pessoas depravadas chegam a ser mais admiradas e louvadas.

12 Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

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

The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

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

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.

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

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

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

Psalm 12

To the Chief Musician; set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David.

Help, Lord! For principled and godly people are here no more; faithfulness and the faithful vanish from among the sons of men.

To his neighbor each one speaks words without use or worth or truth; with flattering lips and double heart [deceitfully] they speak.

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongues that speak proud boasting,

Those who say, With our tongues we prevail; our lips are our own [to command at our will]—who is lord and master over us?

Now will I arise, says the Lord, because the poor are oppressed, because of the groans of the needy; I will set him in safety and in the salvation for which he pants.

The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.

You will keep them and preserve them, O Lord; You will guard and keep us from this [evil] generation forever.

The wicked walk or prowl about on every side, as vileness is exalted [and baseness is rated high] among the sons of men.