Psalms 12

Help, for the Godly Are No More

1{To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.} Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5For 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.

6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Godly Are No More

1 For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

4 who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”

5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

6 The words of Yahweh are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

7 You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

8 The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

The Godly Are No More

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. a A Psalm of David.

1Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more;

the faithful have vanished from among men.

2 They lie to one another;

they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips

and every boastful tongue.

4 They say, “With our tongues we will prevail.

We own our lips—who can be our master?”

5 “For the cause of the oppressed

and for the groaning of the needy,

I will now arise,” says the LORD.

“I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

6 The words of the LORD are flawless,

like silver refined in a furnace,

like gold purified sevenfold. b

7 You, O LORD, will keep us;

You will forever guard us from this generation.

8 The wicked wander freely,

and vileness is exalted among men.

Footnotes:

1 a Sheminith  is probably a musical term; here and in 1 Chronicles 15:21 and Psalm 6:1.
6 b Probable reading; MT like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified sevenfold

Help, for the Godly Are No More

1To the Overseer, on the octave. -- A Psalm of David. Save, Jehovah, for the saintly hath failed, For the stedfast have ceased From the sons of men:

2Vanity they speak each with his neighbour, Lip of flattery! With heart and heart they speak.

3Jehovah doth cut off all lips of flattery, A tongue speaking great things,

4Who said, 'By our tongue we do mightily: Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?'

5Because of the spoiling of the poor, Because of the groaning of the needy, Now do I arise, saith Jehovah, I set in safety him who doth breathe for it.

6Sayings of Jehovah are pure sayings; Silver tried in a furnace of earth refined sevenfold.

7Thou, O Jehovah, dost preserve them, Thou keepest us from this generation to the age.

8Around the wicked walk continually, According as vileness is exalted by sons of men!