Psalm 12

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes: 29 Bangor, 50 Dundee, 39 Caroline, 42 Coleshill

1    Help, Lord, because the godly man

            doth daily fade away;

      And from among the sons of men

            the faithful do decay.

2    Unto his neighbour ev’ry one

            doth utter vanity:

      They with a double heart do speak,

            and lips of flattery.

3    God shall cut off all flatt’ring lips,

            tongues that speak proudly thus,

4    We’ll with our tongue prevail, our lips

            are ours: who’s lord o’er us?

5    For poor oppress’d, and for the sighs

            of needy, rise will I,

      Saith God, and him in safety set

            from such as him defy.

6    The words of God are words most pure;

            they be like silver try’d

      In earthen furnace, seven times

            that hath been purify’d.

7    Lord, thou shalt them preserve and keep

            for ever from this race.

8    On each side walk the wicked, when

            vile men are high in place.