Psalms 12: The LORD's Pure Words
A complaint about deceit answered by trust in God's promises.
Following Psalms 11, David laments that godly, faithful people have grown rare while everyone around him speaks with flattering lips and a double heart. He asks the LORD to cut off proud, boastful speech that claims no one rules over it.
To him that excelleth upon the eight tune. A Psalme of Dauid. Helpe Lord, for there is not a godly man left: for the faithfull are fayled from among the children of men.
They speake deceitfully euery one with his neighbour, flattering with their lips, and speake with a double heart.
The Lord cut off all flattering lippes, and the tongue that speaketh proude things:
Which haue saide, With our tongue will we preuaile: our lippes are our owne: who is Lord ouer vs?
Now for the oppression of the needy, and for the sighes of the poore, I will vp, sayeth the Lord, and will set at libertie him, whom the wicked hath snared.
The wordes of the Lord are pure wordes, as the siluer, tried in a fornace of earth, fined seuen folde.
Thou wilt keepe them, O Lord: thou wilt preserue him from this generation for euer.
The wicked walke on euery side: when they are exalted, it is a shame for the sonnes of men.