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Psalm 12

Plea for Help in Evil Times

To the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.
¹ Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
   the faithful have disappeared from humankind.
² They utter lies to each other;
   with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

³ May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
   the tongue that makes great boasts,
⁴ those who say, ‘With our tongues we will prevail;
   our lips are our own—who is our master?’

⁵ ‘Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
   I will now rise up,’ says the Lord;
   ‘I will place them in the safety for which they long.’
⁶ The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
   silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
   purified seven times.

⁷ You, O Lord, will protect us;
   you will guard us from this generation for ever.
⁸ On every side the wicked prowl,
   as vileness is exalted among humankind.

Psalm 13

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.
¹ How long, O Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I bear pain^* in my soul,
   and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

³ Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
⁴ and my enemy will say, ‘I have prevailed’;
   my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

⁵ But I trusted in your steadfast love;
   my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord,
   because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 14

Denunciation of Godlessness

To the leader. Of David.
¹ Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’
   They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
   there is no one who does good.

² The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
   to see if there are any who are wise,
   who seek after God.

³ They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse;
   there is no one who does good,
   no, not one.

⁴ Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
   who eat up my people as they eat bread,
   and do not call upon the Lord?

⁵ There they shall be in great terror,
   for God is with the company of the righteous.
⁶ You would confound the plans of the poor,
   but the Lord is their refuge.

⁷ O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
   When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
   Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.