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Psalm 12

To the Chief Musician; set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David.

Help, Lord! For principled and godly people are here no more; faithfulness and the faithful vanish from among the sons of men.

To his neighbor each one speaks words without use or worth or truth; with flattering lips and double heart [deceitfully] they speak.

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and the tongues that speak proud boasting,

Those who say, With our tongues we prevail; our lips are our own [to command at our will]—who is lord and master over us?

Now will I arise, says the Lord, because the poor are oppressed, because of the groans of the needy; I will set him in safety and in the salvation for which he pants.

The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over.

You will keep them and preserve them, O Lord; You will guard and keep us from this [evil] generation forever.

The wicked walk or prowl about on every side, as vileness is exalted [and baseness is rated high] among the sons of men.

Man’s Treachery and God’s Constancy

To the Chief Musician. (A)On [a]an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.

12 Help,[b] Lord, for the godly man (B)ceases!
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
(C)They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;
With flattering lips and [c]a double heart they speak.

May the Lord [d]cut off all flattering lips,
And the tongue that speaks [e]proud things,
Who have said,
“With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own;
Who is lord over us?”

“For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,
Now I will arise,” says the Lord;
“I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”

The words of the Lord are (D)pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.
You shall keep them, O Lord,
You shall preserve them from this generation forever.

The wicked prowl on every side,
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 Heb. sheminith
  2. Psalm 12:1 Save
  3. Psalm 12:2 An inconsistent mind
  4. Psalm 12:3 destroy
  5. Psalm 12:3 great