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.

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

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

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

Psalm 12

International Standard Version

To the Director: On an eight stringed harp.^[a] A Davidic Psalm.

Human and Divine Words Contrasted

12 Help, Lord, for godly people no longer exist;
    trustworthy people have disappeared from humanity.^[b]
²Everyone speaks lies to his neighbor;
    they speak with flattering lips and hidden motives.^[c]
³The Lord will cut off all slippery lips,
    and the tongue that boasts great things,
⁴those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;
        our lips belong to us.
    Who is master^[d] over us?”
⁵“Because the poor are being oppressed,
    because the needy are sighing,
    I will now arise,” says the Lord,
        “I will establish in safety those who yearn for it.”
⁶The words of the Lord are pure,
    like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
        purified seven times over.
⁷You, Lord, will keep them^[e] safe,
    you will guard them^[f] from this generation forever.
⁸The wicked, however,^[g] keep walking around,
    exalting the vileness of human beings.^[h]

Footnotes

Psalm 12:1 Or on a lower octave
Psalm 12:1 Lit. from among the children of men
Psalm 12:2 Lit. with slippery lips and a double heart
Psalm 12:4 Or lord
Psalm 12:7 So MT DSS 5/6HevPs 11QPs^c; LXX reads us
Psalm 12:7 So MT DSS 5/6HevPs 11QPs^c; LXX reads us
Psalm 12:8 The Heb. lacks however
Psalm 12:8 Lit. of children of men

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVUE)

International Standard Version (ISV)

Psalm 12 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition