12

1 Help, Yahweh, for the faithful ones have disappeared;

those who have integrity have vanished from the children of men.
2 Everyone says empty words to his neighbor;
everyone speaks with flattering lips and a double heart.

3 Yahweh, cut off all flattering lips,
every tongue declaring great things.
4 These are those who have said, "With our tongues we will prevail.
When our lips speak, who can be master over us?"

5 "Because of violence against the poor, because of the groans of the needy,
I will arise," says Yahweh.
"I will provide the safety for which they long."
6 The words of Yahweh are pure words,
like silver purified in a furnace on the earth,
refined seven times.

7 You are Yahweh! You keep them.
You preserve the godly people from this wicked generation and forever.
8 The wicked walk on every side
when evil is exalted among the children of mankind.