Psa 12 | HCSB | STEP | For the choir director : according to Sheminith . A Davidic psalm . Help , Lord , for no faithful one remains ; the loyal have disappeared from the human race .

‏ Psalms 12

Oppression by the Wicked

1 For the choir director: according to ^{▼▼Sheminith: A musical term meaning instruments or on the instrument of eight strings}Sheminith. ^b A Davidic psalm.

Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the ^{▼▼everyone/ human race: Literally, sons of man or sons of Adam}human race. ^d
2 They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts. ^e
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks boastfully. ^f
4 They say, “Through our tongues we have power; ^{▼▼Lit That say, “By our tongues we are strengthened}
our lips are our own – who can be our master?” ^h

5 “Because of the oppression of the afflicted
and the groaning of the poor,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord.
“I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place.” ⁱ

6 The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
purified seven times. ^j

7 You, Lord, will guard us; ^{▼▼Some Hb mss, LXX, Jer; other Hb mss read them}
You will protect us ^{▼▼Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read him} from this generation forever. ^m
8 The wicked wander ^{▼▼Lit walk about} everywhere,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race. ^o