Psalm 12

English Standard Version

The Faithful Have Vanished

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1 Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.^[1] (Isa 57:1; Mic 7:2) 2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. (1Ch 12:33; Ps 5:9; Ps 41:6; Ps 144:8; Jer 9:8; Ro 16:18; Jas 1:8)

1Ch 12:33Ps 5:9Ps 41:6Ps 144:8Jer 9:8Ro 16:18Jas 1:8

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, (Ps 2:1; Ps 17:10; Da 7:8; Re 13:5)

Ps 2:1Ps 17:10Da 7:8Re 13:5

4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?” 5 “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” (Ps 9:12; Ps 55:18; Ps 82:8; Isa 33:10)

Ps 9:12Ps 55:18Ps 82:8Isa 33:10

6 The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. (Ps 18:30; Ps 19:8; Ps 119:140; Pr 30:5)

Ps 18:30Ps 19:8Ps 119:140Pr 30:5

7 You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us^[2] from this generation forever. 8 On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

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Psalm 12

New International Reader’s Version

from Biblica

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

1 Help, LORD! No one does what is right anymore. Those who are faithful have disappeared from the human race. 2 Everyone tells lies to their neighbours. With their lips they praise others, but they don’t really mean it. 3 May the LORD close all lips that don’t mean what they say. May he stop every tongue that boasts. 4 They say, ‘What we speak with our tongues will win the battle. What we say with our lips will keep us safe. No one will have victory over us.’ 5 The LORD says, ‘The poor are being robbed. Those who are in need groan. So I will stand up to help them. I will keep them safe from those who tell lies about them.’ 6 The words of the LORD are perfect. They are like silver made pure in a clay furnace. They are like gold made pure seven times over. 7 LORD, you will keep needy people safe. You will always keep sinners from hurting us. 8 Proud and sinful people walk around openly when the evil they do is praised by the human race.

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