Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options
Close NRSVUE

Psalm 12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Psalm 12

Plea for Help in Evil Times

To the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
    the faithful have disappeared from humankind.(A)
2 They utter lies to each other;
    with flattering lips and a deceitful heart they speak.(B)

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
    the tongue that makes great boasts,(C)
4 those 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.”(D)
6 The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
    silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
    purified seven times.(E)

7 You, O Lord, will protect us;
    you will guard us from this generation forever.(F)
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
    as vileness is exalted among humankind.(G)

Listen to Psalm 12
Close HCSB

Psalm 12
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to Sheminith.(A) A Davidic psalm.

1 Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the human race.(B)
2 They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.(C)
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks boastfully.(D)
4 They say, “Through our tongues we have power;[a]
our lips are our own—who can be our master?”(E)

5 “Because of the oppression of the afflicted
and the groaning of the poor,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord.
“I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place.”(F)

6 The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
purified seven times.(G)

7 You, Lord, will guard us;[b]
You will protect us[c] from this generation forever.(H)
8 The wicked wander[d] everywhere,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.(I)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:4 Lit That say, “By our tongues we are strengthened
  2. Psalm 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX, Jer; other Hb mss read them
  3. Psalm 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read him
  4. Psalm 12:8 Lit walk about
Next
Psalm 11
Psalm 13
Next
dropdown
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.