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Psalms 12

The psalmist laments the decline of godly people and the prevalence of deceitful speech, as people flatter and speak with insincere hearts. The Lord will punish those who speak proudly and think they can prevail with their words. In response to the oppression of the poor and needy, the Lord will arise to set them in safety. The psalmist affirms the purity of the Lord's words and asks for their preservation from the wicked, who seem to be exalted in the current generation.

1Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and 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?5For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.8The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
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