Psalm 12

Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Lord, we need you. The righteous are disappearing and the loyal are scarce among humanity.

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

Everyone around me spews empty words, their sweet talk hiding their two-faced intentions.

The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

God will silence all deceitful talk and arrogant speech.

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

They've claimed, "Our words will make us victorious; our speech belongs to us alone. Who dares to rule over us?"

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.

When the poor are crushed and the needy groan, God declares, "I will rise up. I will protect them from those who belittle and harm them."

The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

God's words are pure and true, as flawless as silver refined in a furnace, purified not just once, but seven times over.

Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

Lord, you will protect and keep them safe, forever shielding them from the harms of this generation.

The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

When the worst of men rise to power, evil spreads, touching every corner.