Psalm 12 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

For the choir director: according to Sheminith.(A) A Davidic psalm.

1 Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the human race.(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;[a]
our lips are our own—who can be our master?”(E)

5 “Because of the oppression of the afflicted
and the groaning of the poor,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord.
“I will put the one who longs for it in a safe place.”(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 wander[d] everywhere,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.(I)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:4 Lit That say, “By our tongues we are strengthened
  2. Psalm 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX, Jer; other Hb mss read them
  3. Psalm 12:7 Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read him
  4. Psalm 12:8 Lit walk about

Cross references

  1. 12:title : 1Ch 15:21; Ps 6 title
  2. 12:1 : Ps 14:2-3; 53:2-3; Mc 7:2
  3. 12:2 : Ps 41:6; 144:8; Jr 9:8
  4. 12:3 : Ps 5:9
  5. 12:4 : Ps 73:8-9
  6. 12:5 : Ps 9:18; 72:4
  7. 12:6 : Ps 18:30; 119:140; Pr 30:5
  8. 12:7 : Ps 37:28; 97:10
  9. 12:8 : Ps 4:2; 119:37