Psalm 12
Words: The Psalter of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, 1887 ed.
There is also a Common Metre version of this Psalm on this page
CPM (Common Proper Metre - 886 886)
1 Jehovah, help; the godly cease;
Among the sons of men decrease
Those who uprightly live.
With flattering lips all falsehood speak,
And with a double heart they seek
Their neighbors to deceive.
2 The Lord shall flattering lips destroy,
And tongues that boastful words employ;
That say with one accord,
Our tongues shall in our cause be strong~
Our lips to us alone belong;
Who over us is lord?"
3 For those that are oppressed indeed,
For all the poor that sigh in need,
Lo, now will I arise;"
Thus saith Jehovah in his grace,
"And them I will in safety place
From such as them despise."
4 God's words are pure as silver tried,
In furnace seven times purified.
Thou from this race, O God,
Shalt keep thy servants evermore.
When vilest men are raised to power,
The wicked walk abroad.
1 O Thou, Jehovah, grant us help,
Because the godly cease.
And from among the sons of men
The faithful ones decrease.
2 For with his neighbor every one
Doth utter vanity:
They with a double heart do speak~
And lips of flattery.
3 God shall cut off all flattering lips,
Tongues that speak proudly thus
We'll with our tongue prevail, Our lips
Are ours; who's lord o'er us?
4 For poor oppressed, and for the sighs
Of needy, I will rise,
Saith God. and him in safety set
From such as him despise.
5 Jehovah's words are words most pure~
They are like silver tried
In earthen furnace, seven times
That hath been purified.
6 O Lord, thou shalt them keep and save
Forever from this race.
On each side walk the wicked, when
Vile men are high in place.
