Psalm 11:1–12:8

¹In the Lord I take refuge.^f

How then can you say to me:

“Flee^g like a bird to your mountain.^h

²For look, the wicked bend their bows;ⁱ

they set their arrows^j against the strings

to shoot from the shadows^k

at the upright in heart.^l

³When the foundations^m are being destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

⁴The Lord is in his holy temple;ⁿ

the Lord is on his heavenly throne.^o

He observes everyone on earth;^p

his eyes examine^q them.

⁵The Lord examines the righteous,^r

but the wicked, those who love violence,

he hates with a passion.^s

⁶On the wicked he will rain

fiery coals and burning sulfur;^t

a scorching wind^u will be their lot.

⁷For the Lord is righteous,^v

he loves justice;^w

the upright^x will see his face.^y

Psalm 12^a

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^b A psalm of David.

¹Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;^z

those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

²Everyone lies^a to their neighbor;

they flatter with their lips

but harbor deception in their hearts.^b

³May the Lord silence all flattering lips^c

and every boastful tongue—^d

⁴those who say,

“By our tongues we will prevail;^e

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

⁵“Because the poor are plundered^f and the needy groan,^g

I will now arise,^h” says the Lord.

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

⁶And the words of the Lord are flawless,^j

like silver purified^k in a crucible,^l

like gold^c refined seven times.

⁷You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^m

and will protect us forever from the wicked,ⁿ

⁸who freely strut^o about

when what is vile is honored by the human race.