Psalms 12-14

Psalm 12

¹For the chief music-maker on the Sheminith. A Psalm. Of David. Send help, Lord, for mercy has come to an end; there is no more faith among the children of men.

²Everyone says false words to his neighbour: their tongues are smooth in their talk, and their hearts are full of deceit.

³The smooth lips and the tongue of pride will be cut off by the Lord.

⁴They have said, With our tongues will we overcome; our lips are ours: who is lord over us?

⁵Because of the crushing of the poor and the weeping of those in need, now will I come to his help, says the Lord; I will give him the salvation which he is desiring.

⁶The words of the Lord are true words: like silver tested by fire and burned clean seven times.

⁷You will keep them, O Lord, you will keep them safe from this generation for ever.

⁸The sinners are walking on every side, and evil is honoured among the children of men.

Psalm 13

¹To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David. Will you for ever put me out of your memory, O Lord? will your face for ever be turned away from me?

²How long is my soul to be in doubt, with sorrow in my heart all the day? how long will he who is against me be given power over me?

³Let my voice come before you, and give me an answer, O Lord my God; let your light be shining on me, so that the sleep of death may not overtake me;

⁴And he who is against me may not say, I have overcome him; and those who are troubling me may not be glad when I am moved.

⁵But I have had faith in your mercy; my heart will be glad in your salvation.

⁶I will make a song to the Lord, because he has given me my reward.

Psalm 14

¹To the chief music-maker. Of David. The foolish man has said in his heart, God will not do anything. They are unclean, they have done evil works; there is not one who does good.

²The Lord was looking down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who had wisdom, searching after God.

³They have all gone out of the way together; they are unclean, there is not one who does good, no, not one.

⁴Have all the workers of evil no knowledge? they take my people for food as they would take bread; they make no prayer to the Lord.

⁵Then were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the upright.

⁶You have put to shame the thoughts of the poor, but the Lord is his support.

⁷May the salvation of Israel come out of Zion! when the fate of his people is changed by the Lord, Jacob will have joy and Israel will be glad.