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.
Help, יהוה; for the righteous man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
יהוה shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is master over us?
For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith יהוה; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
The words of יהוה are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Thou shalt keep them, O יהוה, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.