Psalm 12-15
Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 12
Oppression by the Wicked
For the choir director: according to Sheminith.(A) A psalm of David.
1 Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the human race.[a](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;
our lips are our own—who can be our master?” (E)
5 “Because of the devastation of the needy
and the groaning of the poor,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord.
“I will provide safety for the one who longs for it.”(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 prowl[d] all around,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.(I)
Psalm 13
A Plea for Deliverance
For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?(J)
2 How long will I store up anxious concerns[e] within me,
agony in my mind every day?
How long will my enemy dominate me?(K)
3 Consider me and answer, Lord my God.
Restore brightness to my eyes;(L)
otherwise, I will sleep in death.
4 My enemy will say, “I have triumphed over him,”
and my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.(M)
5 But I have trusted in your faithful love;(N)
my heart will rejoice in your deliverance.(O)
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he has treated me generously.(P)
Psalm 14
A Portrait of Sinners
For the choir director. Of David.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.”(Q)
They are corrupt; they do vile deeds.
There is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race[f](R)
to see if there is one who is wise,
one who seeks God.
3 All have turned away;
all alike have become corrupt.
There is no one who does good,
not even one.(S)
4 Will evildoers never understand?
They consume my people as they consume bread;(T)
they do not call on the Lord.(U)
5 Then[g] they will be filled with dread,
for God is with those who are[h] righteous.(V)
6 You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed,(W)
but the Lord is his refuge.(X)
7 Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,[i]
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.(Y)
Psalm 15
A Description of the Godly
A psalm of David.
2 The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness,
and acknowledges the truth in his heart(AB)—
3 who does not slander with his tongue,(AC)
who does not harm his friend
or discredit his neighbor,(AD)
4 who despises the one rejected by the Lord[j]
but honors those who fear the Lord,(AE)
who keeps his word whatever the cost,(AF)
5 who does not lend his silver at interest(AG)
or take a bribe against the innocent(AH)—
the one who does these things will never be shaken.(AI)
Footnotes
- 12:1 Or the descendants of Adam, also in v. 8
- 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX, Jer; other Hb mss read them
- 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read him
- 12:8 Lit walk about
- 13:2 Or up counsels
- 14:2 Or the descendants of Adam
- 14:5 Or There
- 14:5 Lit with the generation of the
- 14:7 Or restores his captive people
- 15:4 Lit in his eyes the rejected is despised
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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