Psalm 12

Oppression by the Wicked

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

Help, Lord, for no faithful one remains;
the loyal have disappeared from the human race.^(B)

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2}

They lie to one another;
they speak with flattering lips and deceptive hearts.^(C)

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3}

May the Lord cut off all flattering lips
and the tongue that speaks boastfully.^(D)

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4}

They say, “Through our tongues we have power;^(a)
our lips are our own—who can be our master?”^(E)

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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)

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6}

The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
purified seven times.^(G)

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7}

You, Lord, will guard us;^(b)
You will protect us^(c) from this generation forever.^(H)

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8}

The wicked wander^(d) everywhere,
and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.^(I)

Footnotes:

a. Psalm 12:4: Lit That say, “By our tongues we are strengthened

b. Psalm 12:7: Some Hb mss, LXX, Jer; other Hb mss read them

c. Psalm 12:7: Some Hb mss, LXX; other Hb mss read him

d. Psalm 12:8: Lit walk about

Cross references:

B. Psalm 12:1: Psalm 14:2-3; Psalm 53:2-3

C. Psalm 12:2: Psalm 41:6; Psalm 144:8; Jeremiah 9:8

D. Psalm 12:3: Psalm 5:9

E. Psalm 12:4: Psalm 73:8-9

F. Psalm 12:5: Psalm 9:18; Psalm 72:4

G. Psalm 12:6: Psalm 18:30; Psalm 119:140; Proverbs 30:5

H. Psalm 12:7: Psalm 37:28; Psalm 97:10

I. Psalm 12:8: Psalm 4:2; Psalm 119:37