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

Silence the Flattering Lips

Psalm 12

For the music director, on the eight-string lyre, a psalm of David.
Help, Adonai! For no one godly exists.
For the faithful have vanished from the children of men.
Everyone tells a lie to his neighbor,
talking with flattering lips and a divided heart.
May Adonai cut off all flattering lips—
a tongue bragging big things.
They say: “With our tongue we’ll prevail.
We own our lips—who can master us?”

“Because of the oppression of the poor,
because of the groaning of the needy,
now will I arise,” says Adonai.
“I will put him in the safe place—he pants for it.”
The words of Adonai are pure words—
like silver refined in an earthly crucible,
    purified seven times.
You will keep us safe, Adonai.
You will protect us from this generation forever.
The wicked strut all around,
while vileness is exalted by mankind.