Psalm 11:1–12:8

¹I have taken refuge in the Lord. 

How can you say to me: 

“Flee to your mountain like a bird? 

²Wicked people bend their bows. 

They set their arrows against the strings 

to shoot in the dark at people whose motives are decent. 

³When the foundations ⸤of life⸥ are undermined, 

what can a righteous person do?” 

⁴The Lord is in his holy temple. 

The Lord’s throne is in heaven. 

His eyes see. 

They examine Adam’s descendants. 

⁵The Lord tests righteous people, 

but he hates wicked people and the ones who love violence. 

⁶He rains down fire and burning sulfur upon wicked people. 

He makes them drink from a cup filled with scorching wind. 

⁷The Lord is righteous. 

He loves a righteous way of life. 

Decent people will see his face. 

Psalm 12

For the choir director; on the sheminith; a psalm by David. 

¹Help, O Lord. 

No godly person is left. 

Faithful people have vanished from among Adam’s descendants! 

²All people speak foolishly. 

They speak with flattering lips. They say one thing but mean another. 

³May the Lord cut off every flattering lip 

and every bragging tongue 

⁴that has said, 

“We will overcome with our tongues. 

With lips such as ours, who can be our master?” 

⁵“Because oppressed people are robbed and needy people groan, 

I will now arise,” says the Lord. 

“I will provide safety for those who long for it.” 

⁶The promises of the Lord are pure, 

like silver refined in a furnaceand purified seven times. 

⁷O Lord, you will protect them. 

You will keep each one safe from those people forever. 

⁸Wicked people parade around 

when immorality increases among Adam’s descendants.