Psalms Chapter 12

From The Open Bible Project

For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.

12:1 Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

12:2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

• (a) Who dare defend the truth and show mercy to the oppressed.

12:3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

12:4 who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?"

• (c) They think themselves able to persuade whatever they take in hand.

12:5 "Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says Yahweh; "I will set him in safety from those who malign him."

• (d) The Lord is moved with the complaints of his, and delivers in the end from all danger.

(e) Because the Lord’s word and promise is true and unchangeable he will perform it and preserve the poor from this wicked generation.

12:6 The words of Yahweh are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

12:7 You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

• (f) That is, yours though was only one man.

12:8 The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

• (g) For they suppress the godly and maintain the wicked.