Psalm 12

New International Version

Psalm 12^[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.^[b] A psalm of David.

¹Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;^(A)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
²Everyone lies^(B) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.^(C)

³May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(D)
    and every boastful tongue—^(E)
⁴those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;^(F)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵“Because the poor are plundered^(G) and the needy groan,^(H)
    I will now arise,^(I)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them^(J) from those who malign them.”
⁶And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(K)
    like silver purified^(L) in a crucible,^(M)
    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(N)
and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(O)
⁸who freely strut^(P) about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Footnotes

Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth

Proverbs 21:10-16

New International Version

¹⁰The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.

¹¹When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.^(A)

¹²The Righteous One^[a] takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.^(B)

¹³Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
will also cry out^(C) and not be answered.^(D)

¹⁴A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.^(E)

¹⁵When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.^(F)

¹⁶Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.^(G)

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Footnotes

Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person

Luke 20:45-21:4

New International Version

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

⁴⁵While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁶“Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.^(A) ⁴⁷They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

The Widow’s Offering^(B)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.^(C) ²He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”^(D)