Psalm 12

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

1Help, Lord, for the godly are no more;

the faithful have vanished from among men.

2Everyone lies to his neighbor;

their flattering lips speak with deception.

3May the Lord cut off all flattering lips

and every boastful tongue

4that says, “We will triumph with our tongues;

we own our lips^b—who is our master?”

5“Because of the oppression of the weak

and the groaning of the needy,

I will now arise,” says the Lord.

“I will protect them from those who malign them.”

6And the words of the Lord are flawless,

like silver refined in a furnace of clay,

purified seven times.

7O Lord, you will keep us safe

and protect us from such people forever.

8The wicked freely strut about

when what is vile is honored among men.