Psalm 11-12

New International Version

Psalm 11

For the director of music. Of David.

¹In the Lord I take refuge.^(A)
    How then can you say to me:
    “Flee^(B) like a bird to your mountain.^(C)
²For 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)
³When the foundations^(H) are being destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”

⁴The 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.
⁵The Lord examines the righteous,^(M)
    but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.^(N)
⁶On the wicked he will rain
    fiery coals and burning sulfur;^(O)
    a scorching wind^(P) will be their lot.

⁷For 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.

¹Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;^(U)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
²Everyone lies^(V) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.^(W)

³May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(X)
    and every boastful tongue—^(Y)
⁴those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;^(Z)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵“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.”
⁶And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(AE)
    like silver purified^(AF) in a crucible,^(AG)
    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(AH)
and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(AI)
⁸who freely strut^(AJ) about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.