Psalm 12

Complete Jewish Bible

12 ⁽⁰⁾ For the leader. On sh’minit [low-pitched musical instruments?]. A psalm of David:

^2 (1) Help, Adonai! For no one godly is left;
the faithful have vanished from humankind.
^3 (2) They all tell lies to each other,
flattering with their lips, but speaking from divided hearts.

^4 (3) May Adonai cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks so proudly,
^5 (4) those who say, “By our tongues, we will prevail;
our lips are with us. Who can master us?”
^6 (5) “Because the poor are oppressed,
because the needy are groaning,
I will now rise up,” says Adonai,
“and grant security to those whom they scorn.”
^7 (6) The words of Adonai are pure words,
silver in a melting-pot set in the earth,
refined and purified seven times over.

^8 (7) You, Adonai, protect us;
guard us forever from this generation —
^9 (8) the wicked strut about everywhere
when vileness is held in general esteem.