Psalm 12, Keep Us Safe

For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;

    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

Everyone lies to their neighbor;

    they flatter with their lips

    but harbor deception in their hearts.

May the Lord silence all flattering lips

    and every boastful tongue—

those who say,

    “By our tongues we will prevail;

    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,

    I will now arise,” says the Lord.

    “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

And the words of the Lord are flawless,

    like silver purified in a crucible,

    like gold refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe

    and will protect us forever from the wicked,

who freely strut about

    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

 

Have you ever felt like David, that there was no one loyal and faithful left in the world?

And yet, even in that state, he knew God’s word was perfect; God was the one who would help.

 

Lord, we pray to you to keep us safe, to protect us from the danger and horror around us.