Psalms, 12

1. [For the choirmaster On the octachord Psalm Of David] Help, Yahweh! No one loyal is left, the faithful have vanished from among the children of Adam.

1. <To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.> Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2. Friend tells lies to friend, and, smooth-tongued, speaks from an insincere heart.

2. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.

3. May Yahweh cut away every smooth lip, every boastful tongue,

3. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4. those who say, 'In our tongue lies our strength, our lips are our allies; who can master us?'

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

5. 'For the poor who are plundered, the needy who groan, now will I act,' says Yahweh, 'I will grant salvation to those who sigh for it.'

5. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.

6. Yahweh's promises are promises unalloyed, natural silver which comes from the earth seven times refined.

6. The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7. You, Yahweh, will watch over them, you will protect them from that brood for ever.

7. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8. The wicked will scatter in every direction, as the height of depravity among the children of Adam.

8. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.