Psalm 12-14

New International Version

Psalm 12^[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

¹Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;^(A)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
²Everyone lies^(B) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.^(C)

³May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(D)
    and every boastful tongue—^(E)
⁴those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;^(F)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵“Because the poor are plundered^(G) and the needy groan,^(H)
    I will now arise,^(I)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them^(J) from those who malign them.”
⁶And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(K)
    like silver purified^(L) in a crucible,^(M)
    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(N)
and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(O)
⁸who freely strut^(P) about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Psalm 13^[d]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹How long,^(Q) Lord? Will you forget me^(R) forever?
    How long will you hide your face^(S) from me?
²How long must I wrestle with my thoughts^(T)
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?^(U)

³Look on me^(V) and answer,^(W) Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes,^(X) or I will sleep in death,^(Y)
⁴and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,^(Z)”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.^(AA)

⁵But I trust in your unfailing love;^(AB)
my heart rejoices in your salvation.^(AC)
⁶I will sing^(AD) the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.

Psalm 14^(AE)

For the director of music. Of David.

¹The fool^[e] says in his heart,
“There is no God.”^(AF)
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.

²The Lord looks down from heaven^(AG)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,^(AH)
    any who seek God.^(AI)
³All have turned away,^(AJ) all have become corrupt;^(AK)
    there is no one who does good,^(AL)
    not even one.^(AM)

⁴Do all these evildoers know nothing?^(AN)

They devour my people^(AO) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.^(AP)
⁵But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    for God is present in the company of the righteous.
⁶You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.^(AQ)

⁷Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!^(AR)
When the Lord restores^(AS) his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Footnotes

Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
Psalm 13:1 In Hebrew texts 13:1-6 is numbered 13:2-6.
Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.