Psalm 12

Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to Sheminith. ^yA Davidic psalm.

¹Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;

the loyal have disappeared from the human race. ^z

²They lie to one another;

they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts. ^a

³May the Lord cut off all flattering lips

and the tongue that speaks boastfully. ^b

⁴They say, “Through our tongues we have power; ^c

our lips are our own—who can be our master?” ^d

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.” ^e

⁶The words of the Lord are pure words,

like silver refined in an earthen furnace,

purified seven times. ^f

⁷You, Lord, will guard us; ^g

You will protect us ^hfrom this generation forever. ⁱ

⁸The wicked wander ^jeverywhere,

and what is worthless is exalted by the human race. ^k