Psalm 12

Psalm 12

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

^*Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;^a

those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

Everyone lies^b to their neighbor;

they flatter with their lips

but harbor deception in their hearts.^c

May the Lord silence all flattering lips^d

and every boastful tongue—^e

those who say,

“By our tongues we will prevail;^f

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

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

I will now arise,ⁱ” says the Lord.

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

And the words of the Lord are flawless,^k

like silver purified^l in a crucible,^m

like gold refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safeⁿ

and will protect us forever from the wicked,^o

who freely strut^p about

while depravity is honored by the human race.