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, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that boasts,
Who have said, \"With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?\"
\"Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,\" says Yahweh; \"I will set him in safety from those who malign him.\"
The words of Yahweh are flawless words, As silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.
You will keep them, Yahweh, You will preserve them from this generation forever.
The wicked walk on every side, When what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.