Psalm 12: Salvum me fac

Help me, LORD, for there is no godly one left; *

the faithful have vanished from among us.

Everyone speaks falsely with his neighbor; *

with a smooth tongue they speak from a double heart.

Oh, that the LORD would cut off all smooth tongues, *

and close the lips that utter proud boasts!

Those who say, "With our tongue will we prevail; *

our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"

"Because the needy are oppressed,

and the poor cry out in misery, *

I will rise up," says the LORD,

"and give them the help they long for."

The words of the LORD are pure words, *

like silver refined from ore

and purified seven times in the fire.

O LORD, watch over us *

and save us from this generation for ever.

The wicked prowl on every side, *

and that which is worthless is highly prized by everyone.