1 PSALM 12 God, a Helper against the Treacherous. To the Chief Musician; set an octave below. A Psalm of David. Saveandhelpandrescue, L, for godly people cease to be,For the faithful vanish from among the sons of men.
2 They speak deceitfulandworthless words to one another;With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lcut off all flattering lips,The tongue that speaks great things [in boasting];
4 Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;Our lips are our own; who is lordandmaster over us?”
5 “Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,Now I will arise,” says the L; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
6 The wordsandpromises of the Lare pure words,Like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.
7 You, O L, will preserveandkeep them;You will protect him from this [evil] generation forever.
8 The wicked strut about [in pompous self-importance] on every side,As vileness is exaltedandbaseness is prized among the sons of men.