Psalm 12 (NRSV)

​Bartholomew, Apostle

1Help, O LORD, for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
the faithful have disappeared from humankind.
2They utter lies to each other;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4those 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."
6The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure,
silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7You, O LORD, will protect us;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among humankind.

ELCA's daily Bible readings are chosen from "Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings," prepared by Consultation on the Common Texts, © 2005.
All text is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyrighted, 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches USA, and is used by permission. All rights reserved.