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12 (0) For the leader. On sh’minit [low-pitched musical instruments?]. A psalm of David:

(1) Help, Adonai! For no one godly is left;
the faithful have vanished from humankind.
(2) They all tell lies to each other,
flattering with their lips, but speaking from divided hearts.

(3) May Adonai cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks so proudly,
(4) those who say, “By our tongues, we will prevail;
our lips are with us. Who can master us?”
(5) “Because the poor are oppressed,
because the needy are groaning,
I will now rise up,” says Adonai,
“and grant security to those whom they scorn.”
(6) The words of Adonai are pure words,
silver in a melting-pot set in the earth,
refined and purified seven times over.

(7) You, Adonai, protect us;
guard us forever from this generation —
(8) the wicked strut about everywhere
when vileness is held in general esteem.

13 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:

(1) How long, Adonai?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
(2) How long must I keep asking myself what to do,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long must my enemy dominate me?

(3) Look, and answer me, Adonai my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.
(4) Then my enemy would say, “I was able to beat him”;
and my adversaries would rejoice at my downfall.

(5) But I trust in your grace,
my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety.
(6) I will sing to Adonai, because he gives me
even more than I need.

Psalm 12[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;(A)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
Everyone lies(B) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.(C)

May the Lord silence all flattering lips(D)
    and every boastful tongue—(E)
those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;(F)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered(G) and the needy groan,(H)
    I will now arise,(I)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them(J) from those who malign them.”
And the words of the Lord are flawless,(K)
    like silver purified(L) in a crucible,(M)
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe(N)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,(O)
who freely strut(P) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Psalm 13[d]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

How long,(Q) Lord? Will you forget me(R) forever?
    How long will you hide your face(S) from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts(T)
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?(U)

Look on me(V) and answer,(W) Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes,(X) or I will sleep in death,(Y)
and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,(Z)
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.(AA)

But I trust in your unfailing love;(AB)
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.(AC)
I will sing(AD) the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
  2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
  4. Psalm 13:1 In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6.