Psalm 11

For the director of music. Of David.

In the Lord I take refuge.(A)
    How then can you say to me:
    “Flee(B) like a bird to your mountain.(C)
For look, the wicked bend their bows;(D)
    they set their arrows(E) against the strings
to shoot from the shadows(F)
    at the upright in heart.(G)
When the foundations(H) are being destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple;(I)
    the Lord is on his heavenly throne.(J)
He observes everyone on earth;(K)
    his eyes examine(L) them.
The Lord examines the righteous,(M)
    but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.(N)
On the wicked he will rain
    fiery coals and burning sulfur;(O)
    a scorching wind(P) will be their lot.

For the Lord is righteous,(Q)
    he loves justice;(R)
    the upright(S) will see his face.(T)

Psalm 12[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;(U)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies(V) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.(W)

May the Lord silence all flattering lips(X)
    and every boastful tongue—(Y)
those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;(Z)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered(AA) and the needy groan,(AB)
    I will now arise,(AC)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them(AD) from those who malign them.”
And the words of the Lord are flawless,(AE)
    like silver purified(AF) in a crucible,(AG)
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe(AH)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,(AI)
who freely strut(AJ) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
  2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth

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