Psalms 12

1 Send help, Lord, for mercy has come to an end; there is no more faith among the children of men.

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

2Everyone says false words to his neighbour: their tongues are smooth in their talk, and their hearts are full of deceit.

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

3The smooth lips and the tongue of pride will be cut off by the Lord.

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

4They have said, With our tongues will we overcome; our lips are ours: who is lord over us?

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

5Because of the crushing of the poor and the weeping of those in need, now will I come to his help, says the Lord; I will give him the salvation which he is desiring.

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 true words: like silver tested by fire and burned clean seven times.

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

7You will keep them, O Lord, you will keep them safe from this generation for ever.

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

8The sinners are walking on every side, and evil is honoured among the children of men.

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