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)

Psalm 13

A Plea for Deliverance

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?(J)
How long will I store up anxious concerns[e] within me,
agony in my mind every day?
How long will my enemy dominate me?(K)

Consider me and answer, Lord my God.
Restore brightness to my eyes;(L)
otherwise, I will sleep in death.
My enemy will say, “I have triumphed over him,”
and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.(M)

But I have trusted in your faithful love;(N)
my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.(O)
I will sing to the Lord
because he has treated me generously.(P)

Psalm 14

A Portrait of Sinners

For the choir director. Of David.

The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.”(Q)
They are corrupt; they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race[f](R)
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.(S)

Will evildoers never understand?
They consume my people as they consume bread;(T)
they do not call on the Lord.(U)

Then[g] they will be filled with dread,
for God is with those who are[h] righteous.(V)
You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed,(W)
but the Lord is his refuge.(X)

Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,[i]
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.(Y)

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
  5. 13:2 Or up counsels
  6. 14:2 Or the descendants of Adam
  7. 14:5 Or There
  8. 14:5 Lit with the generation of the
  9. 14:7 Or restores his captive people

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