Psalm 12 | English Standard Version New International Version

Psalm 12 | English Standard Version

The Faithful Have Vanished

1 To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith.* A Psalm of David. Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. 2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, 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.” 6 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 7 You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us* from this generation forever. 8 On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

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New International Version

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

1 Help, Lord, for no-one is faithful anymore; 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* 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.