12
To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.
1 Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.*†
2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.‡
3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:§
4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?**
5 For 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.††
6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.‡‡
8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.§§
* 12:1 upon…: or, upon the eighth † 12:1 Help: or, Save ‡ 12:2 a double…: Heb. an heart and an heart § 12:3 proud: Heb. great ** 12:4 are…: Heb. are with us †† 12:5 puffeth…: or, would ensnare him ‡‡ 12:7 them from: Heb. him, etc: that is, every one of them, etc §§ 12:8 men: Heb. of the sons of the men