shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do ?'
4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.
5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates.
6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.
PSALM 12
1 Help, Lord , for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor; their flattering lips speak with deception.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue
4 that says, 'We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips -who is our master?'
5 'Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,' says the Lord . 'I will protect them from those who malign them.'
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.
7 O Lord , you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.
8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.
PSALM 13
1 How long, O Lord ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, 'I have overcome him,' and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord , for he has been good to me.
PSALM 14
1 The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
3 All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Will evildoers never learn- those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the Lord ?
5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
PSALM 15
1 Lord , who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord , who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
5 who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
PSALM 16
1 Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I said to the Lord , 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.'
