Bible History
Bible History

Psalm 12 - New English Translation (NET)

You are here: Home New English Translation (NET) Psalm 12

Psalm 12[a]

For the music director, according to the sheminith style;[b] a psalm of David.

12 Deliver, Lord!
For the godly[c] have disappeared;[d]
people of integrity[e] have vanished.[f]
2 People lie to one another;[g]
they flatter and deceive.[h]
3 May the Lord cut off[i] all flattering lips,
and the tongue that boasts![j]
4 They say,[k] “We speak persuasively;[l]
we know how to flatter and boast.[m]
Who is our master?”[n]
5 “Because of the violence done to the oppressed,[o]
because of the painful cries[p] of the needy,
I will spring into action,”[q] says the Lord.
“I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.”[r]
6 The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable.[s]
They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,
where it is thoroughly refined.[t]
7 You, Lord, will protect them;[u]
you will continually shelter each one from these evil people,[v]
8 for the wicked seem to be everywhere,[w]
when people promote evil.[x]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 sn Psalm 12. The psalmist asks the Lord to intervene, for society is overrun by deceitful, arrogant oppressors and godly individuals are a dying breed. When the Lord announces his intention to defend the oppressed, the psalmist affirms his confidence in the divine promise.
  2. Psalm 12:1 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term שְׁמִינִית (sheminit) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See 1 Chr 15:21.
  3. Psalm 12:1 tn The singular form is collective or representative. Note the plural form “faithful [ones]” in the following line. A “godly [one]” (חָסִיד, khasid) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 4:3; 18:25; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).
  4. Psalm 12:1 tn Or “have come to an end.”
  5. Psalm 12:1 tn Heb “the faithful [ones] from the sons of man.”
  6. Psalm 12:1 tn The Hebrew verb פָּסַס (pasas) occurs only here. An Akkadian cognate means “efface, blot out.”
  7. Psalm 12:2 tn Heb “falsehood they speak, a man with his neighbor.” The imperfect verb forms in v. 2 describe what is typical in the psalmist’s experience.
  8. Psalm 12:2 tn Heb “[with] a lip of smoothness, with a heart and a heart they speak.” Speaking a “smooth” word refers to deceptive flattery (cf. Ps 5:9; 55:21; Prov 2:16; 5:3; 7:5, 21; 26:28; 28:23; Isa 30:10). “Heart” here refers to their mind, from which their motives and intentions originate. The repetition of the noun indicates diversity (see GKC 396 §123.f, IBHS 116 §7.2.3c, and Deut 25:13, where the phrase “weight and a weight” refers to two different measuring weights). These people have two different types of “hearts.” Their flattering words seem to express kind motives and intentions, but this outward display does not really reflect their true motives. Their real “heart” is filled with evil thoughts and destructive intentions. The “heart” that is seemingly displayed through their words is far different from the real “heart” they keep disguised. (For the idea see Ps 28:3.) In 1 Chr 12:33 the phrase “without a heart and a heart” means “undivided loyalty.”
  9. Psalm 12:3 tn The verb form is a jussive, indicating that the statement is imprecatory (“May the Lord cut off”), not indicative (“The Lord will cut off”; see also Ps 109:15 and Mal 2:12). The psalmist appeals to God to destroy the wicked, rather than simply stating his confidence that he will. In this way he seeks to activate divine judgment by appealing to God’s just character. For an example of the power of such a curse, see Judg 9:7-57.
  10. Psalm 12:3 tn Heb “a tongue speaking great [things].”
  11. Psalm 12:4 tn Heb “which say.” The plural verb after the relative pronoun indicates a plural antecedent for the pronoun, probably “lips” in v. 3.
  12. Psalm 12:4 tn Heb “to our tongue we make strong.” The Hiphil of גָבַר (gavar) occurs only here and in Dan 9:27, where it refers to making strong, or confirming, a covenant. Here in Ps 12 the evildoers “make their tongue strong” in the sense that they use their tongue to produce flattering and arrogant words to accomplish their purposes. The preposition ל (lamed) prefixed to “our tongue” may be dittographic.
  13. Psalm 12:4 tn Heb “our lips [are] with us.” This odd expression probably means, “our lips are in our power,” in the sense that they say what they want, whether it be flattery or boasting. For other cases where אֵת (ʾet, “with”) has the sense “in the power of,” see Ps 38:10 and other texts listed by BDB 86 s.v. 3.a.
  14. Psalm 12:4 sn The rhetorical question expresses the arrogant attitude of these people. As far as they are concerned, they are answerable to no one for how they speak.
  15. Psalm 12:5 tn The term translated “oppressed” is an objective genitive; the oppressed are the recipients/victims of violence.
  16. Psalm 12:5 tn Elsewhere in the psalms this noun is used of the painful groans of prisoners awaiting death (79:11; 102:20). The related verb is used of the painful groaning of those wounded in combat (Jer 51:52; Ezek 26:15) and of the mournful sighing of those in grief (Ezek 9:4; 24:17).
  17. Psalm 12:5 tn Heb “I will rise up.”
  18. Psalm 12:5 tn Heb “I will place in deliverance, he pants for it.” The final two words in Hebrew (יָפִיחַ לוֹ, yafiakh lo) comprise an asyndetic relative clause, “the one who pants for it.” “The one who pants” is the object of the verb “place” and the antecedent of the pronominal suffix (in the phrase “for it”) is “deliverance.” Another option is to translate, “I will place in deliverance the witness for him,” repointing יָפִיחַ (a Hiphil imperfect from פּוּחַ, puakh, “pant”) as יָפֵחַ (yafeakh), a noun meaning “witness.” In this case the Lord would be promising protection to those who have the courage to support the oppressed in the court of law. However, the first part of the verse focuses on the oppressed, not their advocates.
  19. Psalm 12:6 tn Heb “the words of the Lord are pure words,” i.e., untainted by falsehood or deception (in contrast to the flattery of the evildoers, v. 2).
  20. Psalm 12:6 tn Heb “[like] silver purified in a furnace of [i.e., “on”] the ground, refined seven times.” The singular participle מְזֻקָּק (mezuqqaq, “refined”) modifies “silver.” The number seven is used rhetorically to express the thorough nature of the action. For other rhetorical/figurative uses of שִׁבְעָתָיִם (shivʿatayim, “seven times”), see Gen 4:15, 24; Ps 79:12; Prov 6:31; Isa 30:26.
  21. Psalm 12:7 tn The third person plural pronominal suffix on the verb is masculine, referring back to the “oppressed” and “needy” in v. 5 (both of those nouns are plural in form), suggesting that the verb means “protect” here. The suffix does not refer to אִמֲרוֹת (ʾimarot, “words”) in v. 6, because that term is feminine gender.
  22. Psalm 12:7 tn Heb “you will protect him from this generation permanently.” The third masculine singular suffix on the verb “protect” is probably used in a distributive sense, referring to each one within the group mentioned previously (the oppressed/needy, referred to as “them” in the preceding line). On this grammatical point see GKC 396 §123.f (where the present text is not cited). (Some Hebrew mss and ancient textual witnesses read “us,” both here and in the preceding line.) The noun דוֹר (dor, “generation”) refers here to the psalmist’s contemporaries, who were characterized by deceit and arrogance (see vv. 1-2). See BDB 189-90 s.v. for other examples where “generation” refers to a class of people.
  23. Psalm 12:8 tn Heb “the wicked walk all around.” One could translate v. 8a as an independent clause, in which case it would be a concluding observation in proverbial style. The present translation assumes that v. 8a is a subordinate explanatory clause, or perhaps a subordinate temporal clause (“while the wicked walk all around”). The adverb סָבִיב (saviv, “around”), in combination with the Hitpael form of the verb “walk” (which indicates repeated action), pictures the wicked as ubiquitous. They have seemingly overrun society.
  24. Psalm 12:8 tn Heb “when evil is lifted up by the sons of man.” The abstract noun זֻלּוּת (zulut, “evil”) occurs only here. On the basis of evidence from the cognate languages (see HALOT 272 s.v.), one might propose the meaning “base character,” or “morally foolish behavior.”

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 12 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

12 To the Overseer, on the octave. -- A Psalm of David. Save, Jehovah, for the saintly hath failed, For the stedfast have ceased From the sons of men: 2 Vanity they speak each with his neighbour, Lip of flattery! With heart and heart they speak. 3 Jehovah doth cut off all lips of flattery, A tongue ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

12 To the victory, on the eighth, the song of David. Lord, make thou me safe, for the holy (man) failed; for truths be made little from the sons of men. (To victory, on the eighth, the psalm of David. Lord, save thou me, for there be no more holy people; the faithful be made few, if any, among the s...
Read More

Psalm 12 - World English Bible (WEB)

For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.12 Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, an...
Read More

Psalm 12 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 12For the worship leader. A song of David accompanied by the lyre.[a]1 Help me, O Eternal One, for I can’t find anyone who follows You. The faithful have fallen out of sight.2 Everyone tells lies through sweet-talking lips and speaks from a hollow and deceptive heart. 3 May the Eternal silence...
Read More

Psalm 12 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Silence the Flattering LipsPsalm 121 For the music director, on the eight-string lyre, a psalm of David.2 Help, Adonai! For no one godly exists.For the faithful have vanished from the children of men.3 Everyone tells a lie to his neighbor,talking with flattering lips and a divided heart.4 May Adonai...
Read More

Psalm 12 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.12 Help, Lord; for there is no longer any that is godly; for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men.2 Every one utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.12 Help, Lord; for there is no longer any that is godly; for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men.2 Every one utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 12Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind.2 They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the Lord ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 12Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind.2 They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the Lord ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 12Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind.(A)2 They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a deceitful heart they speak.(B)3 May t...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 12For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.[a]1 Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!2 Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.3 May the Lord cut o...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Life Version (NLV)

God—Our Helper12 Help, Lord! For God-like men are here no more. The faithful can no longer be seen among the sons of men. 2 They lie to each other. Their lips speak with sweet-sounding words that are not true. 3 May the Lord cut off all lips of false respect, and the tongue that speaks of great th...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Man’s Treachery and God’s ConstancyTo the Chief Musician. (A)On [a]an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.12 Help,[b] Lord, for the godly man (B)ceases!For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.2 (C)They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;With flattering lips and [c]a double heart t...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 12[a]For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful any more; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.2 Everyone lies to their neighbour; they flatter with their lips but harbour deception in their hearts. 3 May the Lor...
Read More

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;(A) those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.2 Everyone lies(B) to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.(C) 3 May t...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 12For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.1 Help, Lord! No one does what is right anymore. Those who are faithful have disappeared from the human race.2 Everyone tells lies to their neighbors. With their lips they praise others, but they don’t really mean it. 3 May ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Century Version (NCV)

A Prayer Against LiarsFor the director of music. Upon the sheminith. A psalm of David.12 Save me, Lord, because the good people are all gone; no true believers are left on earth.2 Everyone lies to his neighbors; they say one thing and mean another. 3 The Lord will stop those flattering lips and cut ...
Read More

61 Bible Translations

Popular Articles

Explore the Bible Like Never Before!

Bible History Online

Bible Study Tools

Top Tags