Psalm 12

1 Help, Jehovah; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

3 Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;

4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5 Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will set him in the safety he panteth for.

6 The words of Jehovah are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times.

7 Thou wilt keep them, O Jehovah, Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Psalms 12

A prayer for help

1 Please help me, Lord!
All who were faithful
and all who were loyal
have disappeared.

2 Everyone tells lies,
and no one is sincere.

3 Won't you chop off
all flattering tongues
that boast so loudly?

4 They say to themselves,
“We are great speakers.
No one else has a chance.”

5 But you, Lord, tell them,
“I will do something!
The poor are ill-treated
and helpless people moan.
I'll rescue all who suffer.”

6 Our Lord, you are true
to your promises,
and your word is like silver
heated seven times
in a fiery furnace.t

7 You will protect us
and always keep us safe
from those people.

8 But all who are wicked
will keep on strutting,
while everyone praises
their shameless deeds.t