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12 (0) For the leader. On sh’minit [low-pitched musical instruments?]. A psalm of David:

(1) Help, Adonai! For no one godly is left;
the faithful have vanished from humankind.
(2) They all tell lies to each other,
flattering with their lips, but speaking from divided hearts.

(3) May Adonai cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks so proudly,
(4) those who say, “By our tongues, we will prevail;
our lips are with us. Who can master us?”
(5) “Because the poor are oppressed,
because the needy are groaning,
I will now rise up,” says Adonai,
“and grant security to those whom they scorn.”
(6) The words of Adonai are pure words,
silver in a melting-pot set in the earth,
refined and purified seven times over.

(7) You, Adonai, protect us;
guard us forever from this generation —
(8) the wicked strut about everywhere
when vileness is held in general esteem.

Psalm 12[a]

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

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;(A)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies(B) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.(C)

May the Lord silence all flattering lips(D)
    and every boastful tongue—(E)
those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;(F)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered(G) and the needy groan,(H)
    I will now arise,(I)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them(J) from those who malign them.”
And the words of the Lord are flawless,(K)
    like silver purified(L) in a crucible,(M)
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe(N)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,(O)
who freely strut(P) about
    when what is vile is honored 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