Psalms 12-14

Psalm 12

¹To the chief Musician. Upon Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Save, Jehovah, for the godly man is gone; for the faithful have failed from among the children of men.

²They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour: with flattering lip, with a double heart, do they speak.

³Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things,

⁴Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail, our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

⁵Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set him in safety, at whom they puff.

⁶The words of Jehovah are pure words, silver tried in the furnace of earth, purified seven times.

⁷Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them, thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

⁸The wicked walk about on every side, when vileness is exalted among the children of men.

Psalm 13

¹To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. How long, Jehovah, wilt thou forget me for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

²How long shall I take counsel in my soul, with sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

³Consider, answer me, O Jehovah my God! lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

⁴Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him! lest mine adversaries be joyful when I am moved.

⁵As for me, I have confided in thy loving-kindness; my heart shall be joyful in thy salvation.

⁶I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 14

¹To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They have corrupted themselves, they have done abominable works: there is none that doeth good.

²Jehovah looked down from the heavens upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

³They have all gone aside, they are together become corrupt: there is none that doeth good, not even one.

⁴Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, eating up my people as they eat bread? They call not upon Jehovah.

⁵There were they in great fear; for God is in the generation of the righteous.

⁶Ye have shamed the counsel of the afflicted, because Jehovah was his refuge.

⁷Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When Jehovah turneth again the captivity of his people, Jacob shall be glad, Israel shall rejoice.