The Word Am I

The Book of Psalms

Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 12 -

The pious are no more

1
Unto the end. For the octave. A Psalm of David.
2
Save me, O Lord, because holiness has passed away, because truths have been diminished, before the sons of men.
3
They have been speaking emptiness, each one to his neighbor; they have been speaking with deceitful lips and a duplicitous heart.(a)
4
May the Lord scatter all deceitful lips, along with the tongue that speaks malice.
5
They have said: “We will magnify our tongue; our lips belong to us. What is Lord to us?”
6
Because of the misery of the destitute and the groaning of the poor, now I will arise, says the Lord. I will place him in safety. I will act faithfully toward him.
7
The eloquence of the Lord is pure eloquence, silver tested by fire, purged from the earth, refined seven times.
8
You, O Lord, will preserve us, and you will guard us from this generation into eternity.
9
The impious wander aimlessly. According to your loftiness, you have multiplied the sons of men.

Footnotes

(a)11:3 The phrase ‘in corde et corde’ is idiomatic, meaning with a duplicitous or double heart.(Conte)

The pious are no more

1
Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2
Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
3
May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,
4
who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”
5
“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”
6
The LORD’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.
7
You will keep them, LORD. You will preserve them from this generation forever.
8
The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.