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To the chief Musician. Upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

12 Save, Jehovah, for the godly man is gone; for the faithful have failed from among the children of men.

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lip, with a double heart, do they speak.

Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things,

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail, our lips are our own: who [is] lord over us?

Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set [him] in safety, at whom they puff.

The words of Jehovah are pure words, silver tried in the furnace of earth, purified seven times.

Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them, thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

The wicked walk about on every side, when vileness is exalted among the children of men.

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

13 How long, Jehovah, wilt thou forget me for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, with sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

Consider, answer me, O Jehovah my God! lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the [sleep of] death;

Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him! [lest] mine adversaries be joyful when I am moved.

As for me, I have confided in thy loving-kindness; my heart shall be joyful in thy salvation.

I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath dealt bountifully with me.

To the chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David.

14 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They have corrupted themselves, they have done abominable works: there is none that doeth good.

Jehovah looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

They have all gone aside, they are together become corrupt: there is none that doeth good, not even one.

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, eating up my people [as] they eat bread? They call not upon Jehovah.

There were they in great fear; for God is in the generation of the righteous.

Ye have shamed the counsel of the afflicted, because Jehovah [was] his refuge.

Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When Jehovah turneth again the captivity of his people, Jacob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoice.

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.

Psalm 14(AE)

For the director of music. Of David.

The fool[e] says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”(AF)
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
    there is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven(AG)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(AH)
    any who seek God.(AI)
All have turned away,(AJ) all have become corrupt;(AK)
    there is no one who does good,(AL)
    not even one.(AM)

Do all these evildoers know nothing?(AN)

They devour my people(AO) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.(AP)
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    for God is present in the company of the righteous.
You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.(AQ)

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!(AR)
    When the Lord restores(AS) his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

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.
  5. Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.