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Psalm 12

Psalm 11Psalm 13

Psalm 12 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Psalm 12[a]

Prayer Against Evil Tongues

1 For the leader; “upon the eighth.” A psalm of David.

I

2 Help, Lord, for no one loyal remains;
    the faithful have vanished from the children of men.
3 They tell lies to one another,
    speak with deceiving lips and a double heart.

II

4 May the Lord cut off all deceiving lips,
    and every boastful tongue,
5 Those who say, “By our tongues we prevail;
    when our lips speak, who can lord it over us?”

III

6 “Because they rob the weak, and the needy groan,
    I will now arise,” says the Lord;
    “I will grant safety to whoever longs for it.”

IV

7 The promises of the Lord are sure,
    silver refined in a crucible,[b]
    silver purified seven times.
8 You, O Lord, protect us always;
    preserve us from this generation.
9 On every side the wicked roam;
    the shameless are extolled by the children of men.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 12 A lament. The psalmist, thrown into a world where lying and violent people persecute the just (Ps 12:2–3), prays that the wicked be punished (Ps 12:4–5). The prayer is not simply for vengeance but arises from a desire to see God’s justice appear on earth. Ps 12:6 preserves the word of assurance spoken by the priest to the lamenter; it is not usually transmitted in such Psalms. In Ps 12:7–8 the psalmist affirms the intention to live by the word of assurance.
  2. 12:7 A crucible: lit., “in a crucible in the ground.” The crucible was placed in the ground for support.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Psalm 12 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 12[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.

3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips
    and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
    I will now arise,” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
    like silver purified in a crucible,
    like gold[c] refined seven times.

7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
  2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
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