Psalm
Select chapter 12

Psalm 12

Psalm 12[a]

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

1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful any more;
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbour;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbour deception in their hearts.

3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips
    and every boastful tongue –
4 those who say,
    ‘By our tongues we will prevail;
    our own lips will defend us – who is lord over us?’

5 ‘Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
    I will now arise,’ says the Lord.
    ‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
    like silver purified in a crucible,
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
    and will protect us for ever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
    when what is vile is honoured by the human race.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
  2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
Psalm 12