USB ~ Psalms 12

Prayer Against Evil Tongues

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

2 Help, LORD, for no one loyal remains; the faithful have vanished from the children of men. a

3 They tell lies to one another, speak with deceiving lips and a double heart. b

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?” c

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.” d

7 The promises of the LORD are sure, silver refined in a crucible,† silver purified seven times. e

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

†. 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.

†. 12:7 A crucible: lit., “in a crucible in the ground.” The crucible was placed in the ground for support.

12:2 Ps 14:3; 116:11; Is 59:15; Mi 7:2.
12:3 Ps 28:3; 55:22; Is 59:3-4; Jer 9:7.
12:5 Sir 5:3.
12:6 Is 33:10.
12:7 Ps 18:31; 19:8; Prv 30:5.