Psalms Chapter 12

For the Choir Director. A Psalm of David

Set to The Eight-String Lyre

1 Help, Yahveh; there aren’t any decent people left;

      the faithful are disappearing.

2 Neighbors lie to one another

      and speak with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.

3 May Yahveh cut off their flattering lips

         and bragging tongues 4 that say

                   “We can talk our way out of anything;

            they’re our lips; who’s going to stop us?”

5 Yahveh says, “Since the oppressed are suffering violence

            and the needy groan,

      I’ll come to give them the protection they long for.”

Ps 12:1-5

6 Your promises are pure, Yahveh,

      like silver refined in a furnace seven times.

7 Keep us; protect us from this generation

         8that struts around, displaying its contempt.                    

Ps 12:6-8

From the CYV translation by Virgil Warren, PhD