Psalms 12

1Help, Jehovah; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

1Help us, LORD, for the godly people are disappearing; those who are faithful have vanished from among the human race.

2They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

2Everyone lies to their neighbors; they speak with smooth, flattering talk and a dishonest heart.

3Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;

3May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every tongue that brags about great things.

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

4They say, 'We will win with our words; our lips belong to us. Who can tell us what to do?'

5Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will set him in the safety he panteth for.

5'Because the poor are oppressed and the needy groan, I will now stand up,' says the LORD. 'I will place them in the safety they long for.'

6The words of Jehovah are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times.

6The promises of the LORD are pure, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times over.

7Thou wilt keep them, O Jehovah, Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

7You, LORD, will keep us safe; you will protect us from these people forever.

8The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

8The wicked strut around everywhere when evil is honored among the human race.