Psalm 12

To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.

1. Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth;

for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour:

with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

3. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips,

and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4. who have said, With our tongue will we prevail;

our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,

now will I arise, saith the Lord;

I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

6. The words of the Lord are pure words:

as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord,

thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8. The wicked walk on every side,

when the vilest men are exalted.