Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to * Sheminith. y A Davidic psalm.

1 Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;

the loyal have disappeared from the * human race. z

2 They lie to one another;

they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts. a

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips

and the tongue that speaks boastfully. b

4 They 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

6 The words of the Lord are pure words,

like silver refined in an earthen furnace,

purified seven times. f

7 You, Lord, will guard us; g

You will protect us h from this generation forever. i

8 The wicked wander j everywhere,

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