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Psalm 12

Proud Words vs. Pure Words

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For the choir director. According to sheminith.[a] A psalm by David.

The Proud Words of the Ungodly

Save us, Lord, for the merciful have disappeared.
The faithful have vanished from among mankind.

Everyone speaks falsehood to his neighbor.
Their flattering lips speak double-talk.[b]
May the Lord cut off all flattering lips.
May he cut off every tongue that speaks boastfully,
which says, “With our tongues we will establish our power.
We say what we please.[c] Who is lord over us?”

The Pure Words of the Lord

“Because of the destruction of the oppressed,
because of the groaning of the poor,
now I will rise up,” says the Lord.
“I will keep him safe from the one who puffs against him.”[d]
The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.
You, Lord, will keep them safe.
You will protect them from such people forever.
The wicked strut around
    when depravity is honored by the children of Adam.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 Sheminith is apparently derived from the Hebrew word for eight. It may refer to an eight-stringed instrument, to the bass voice, to low-pitched stringed instruments, or, most likely, to a method for tuning a stringed instrument (1 Chronicles 15:21).
  2. Psalm 12:2 Literally speak with a heart and a heart
  3. Psalm 12:4 Literally our lips are with us
  4. Psalm 12:5 Or in the safety he desires