Psalm 12³²

For the music director; according to the sheminith style;³³ a psalm of David
12:1 Deliver, LORD!
For the godly¹ have disappeared,²
people of integrity³ have vanished.⁴
12:2 People lie to one another,⁵
they flatter and deceive.⁶
12:3 May the LORD cut off⁷ all flattering lips,
and the tongue that boasts!⁸
12:4 They say,⁹ “We speak persuasively,¹⁰
we know how to flatter and boast.¹¹
Who is our master?”¹²
12:5 “Because of the violence done to the oppressed,¹³
because of the painful cries¹⁴ of the needy,
I will spring into action,”¹⁵ says the LORD.
“I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.”¹⁶
12:6 The LORD’s words are absolutely reliable.¹⁷
They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,
where it is thoroughly refined.¹⁸
12:7 You, LORD, will protect them,¹⁹
you will continually shelter each one from these evil people,²⁰
12:8 for the wicked seem to be everywhere,²¹
when people promote evil.²²