Psalms 12

Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to Sheminith. A psalm of David.

¹Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains; the loyal have disappeared from the human race.²

³They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.⁴

⁵May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaks boastfully.⁶

⁷They say, “Through our tongues we have power; our lips are our own — who can be our master?”⁸

⁹“Because of the devastation of the needy and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up,” says the Lord. “I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”¹⁰

¹¹The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.¹²

¹³You, Lord, will guard us; you will protect us from this generation forever.¹⁴

¹⁵The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.¹⁶