Psalm 12–14

Psalm 12a

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

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

those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

2 Everyone liesa to their neighbor;

they flatter with their lips

but harbor deception in their hearts.b

3 May the Lord silence all flattering lipsc

and every boastful tongue—d

4 those 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 plunderedf and the needy groan,g

I will now arise,h” says the Lord.

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

6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,j

like silver purifiedk in a crucible,l

like goldc refined seven times.

7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safem

and will protect us forever from the wicked,n

8 who freely struto about

when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Psalm 13a

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1 How long,p Lord? Will you forget meq forever?

How long will you hide your facer from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughtss

and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?t

3 Look on meu and answer,v Lord my God.

Give light to my eyes,w or I will sleep in death,x

4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,y”

and my foes will rejoice when I fall.z

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;a

my heart rejoices in your salvation.b

6 I will singc the Lord’s praise,

for he has been good to me.

Psalm 14

14:1–7pp—Ps 53:1–6

For the director of music. Of David.

1 The foola says in his heart,

“There is no God.”d

They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;

there is no one who does good.

2 The Lord looks down from heavene

on all mankind

to see if there are any who understand,f

any who seek God.g

3 All have turned away,h all have become corrupt;i

there is no one who does good,j

not even one.k

4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?l

They devour my peoplem as though eating bread;

they never call on the Lord.n

5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,

for God is present in the company of the righteous.

6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,

but the Lord is their refuge.o

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!p

When the Lord restoresq his people,

let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!