Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to Sheminith. A Davidic psalm.

1 Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the human race.
2 They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks boastfully.

4 They say, "Through our tongues we have power;
our lips are our own-who can be our master?"

5 "Because of the oppression of the afflicted
and the groaning of the poor,
I will now rise up," says the Lord.
"I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place."

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

7 You, Lord, will guard us;
You will protect us from this generation forever.

8 The wicked wander everywhere,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.

Psalm 12

For the music director; according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.

1 Deliver, Lord!
For the godly have disappeared;
people of integrity have vanished.

2 People lie to one another;
they flatter and deceive.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
and the tongue that boasts!

4 They say, “We speak persuasively;
we know how to flatter and boast.
Who is our master?”

5 “Because of the violence done to the oppressed,
because of the painful cries of the needy,
I will spring into action,” says the Lord.
“I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.”

6 The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable.
They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,
where it is thoroughly refined.

7 You, Lord, will protect them;
you will continually shelter each one from these evil people,

8 for the wicked seem to be everywhere,
when people promote evil.