Psalms 12
The psalmist cries for help because the godly are vanishing and the faithful are failing among men. Liars and flatterers fill the earth, but the LORD promises to arise and protect the poor, for His words are pure as silver tried seven times.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. | Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases; 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. | Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. |
| 3 | The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: | May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue — |
| 4 | Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? | those who say, "By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us — 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. | "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 | The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. | the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. |
| 7 | Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. | You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, |
| 8 | The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. | The wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted. |