• Psalm 12In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.

  • 1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
  • 2 Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.
  • 3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—
  • 4 those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
  • 5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
  • 6 And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.
  • 7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked,
  • 8 who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.