Psalm 12:1–8

Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;

for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.

Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;

with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,

the tongue that makes great boasts,

those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,

our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,

I will now arise,” says the Lord;

“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

The words of the Lord are pure words,

like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,

purified seven times.

You, O Lord, will keep them;

you will guard us from this generation forever.

On every side the wicked prowl,

as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;

those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

Everyone lies to their neighbor;

they flatter with their lips

but harbor deception in their hearts.

May the Lord silence all flattering lips

and every boastful tongue—

those who say,

“By our tongues we will prevail;

our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,

I will now arise,” says the Lord.

“I will protect them from those who malign them.”

And the words of the Lord are flawless,

like silver purified in a crucible,

like gold refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe

and will protect us forever from the wicked,

who freely strut about

when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;

the loyal have disappeared from the human race.

They lie to one another;

they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips

and the tongue that speaks boastfully.

They say, “Through our tongues we have power;

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

“Because of the devastation of the needy

and the groaning of the poor,

I will now rise up,” says the Lord.

“I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”

The words of the Lord are pure words,

like silver refined in an earthen furnace,

purified seven times.

You, Lord, will guard us;

you will protect us from this generation forever.

The wicked prowl all around,

and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.

Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing!

The faithful have vanished from the earth!

Neighbors lie to each other,

speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.

May the Lord cut off their flattering lips

and silence their boastful tongues.

They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content.

Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”

The Lord replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless,

and I have heard the groans of the poor.

Now I will rise up to rescue them,

as they have longed for me to do.”

The Lord’s promises are pure,

like silver refined in a furnace,

purified seven times over.

Therefore, Lord, we know you will protect the oppressed,

preserving them forever from this lying generation,

even though the wicked strut about,

and evil is praised throughout the land.

Save, O Yahweh, for the pious have ceased to be;

for the faithful have vanished

from among the children of humankind.

They speak falseness to each other.

With flattering lips,

with a double heart they speak.

May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips,

the tongue speaking great boasts—

those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail.

Our lips are on our side.

Who is master over us?”

“Because of the oppression of the afflicted,

because of the groaning of the poor,

now I will rise up,” Yahweh says.

“I shall put them in the safety for which they long.”

The words of Yahweh are pure words

like silver refined in the crucible on the ground,

refined seven times.

You, O Yahweh, will protect them.

You will preserve him

from this generation always.

The wicked prowl about

when vileness is exalted among the children of humankind.

Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth;

For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour:

With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips,

And the tongue that speaketh proud things:

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail;

Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

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.

The words of the Lord are pure words:

As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Thou shalt keep them, O Lord,

Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

The wicked walk on every side,

When the vilest men are exalted.