Psalms

Psalm 12

1David complaining of the perfidiousness of mankind desireth the help of God: 3he comforteth himself in the assurance of God's judgments on the wicked, 6and in the faithfulness of his promises to protect the righteous.


0To the chief Musician 1upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.

1Or, upon the eighth. Ps. 6, title. 1Ch. 15.21.

1HELP,2 LORD; for athe godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2Or, save.

a Is. 57.1. Mi. 7.1,2. Ge. 6.12. Ps. 14.1-4; 4.2.

2They bspeak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with 3a double heart do they speak.

3Heb. an heart and an heart.

b Ps. 10.7; 5.9; 36.1-4; 28.3. Je. 9.3-6.

3The cLORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh 4proud things:

4Heb. great things.

c 1Sa. 2.3. Job 32.22. Da. 8.25; 7.8,25. Pr. 6.16-19. Is. 36; 37; 54.17. Jude 15,16.

4Who dhave said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips 5are our own: who is lord over us?

5Heb. are with us.

d Ex. 15.2; 5.2. Ps. 73.8,9. Je. 2.31.

5eFor the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that 6puffeth at him.

6Or, would ensnare him.

e Ex. 2.23-25; 3.7,8. Ps. 125.3. Is. 33.10; 25.4. Lu. 18.7,8. Mi. 7.9,10.

6The fwords of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

f 2Sa. 22.31. Ps. 19.8,9; 18.30; 119.140. Pr. 30.5.

7gThou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve 7them from this generation for ever.

7Heb. him, that is, every one of them.

g Ps. 16.1; 121.7,8. Is. 27.3. 1Pe. 1.5. Jude 1.

8hThe wicked walk on every side, when 8the vilest men are exalted.

8Heb. the vilest of the sons of men are exalted.

h Ho. 5.11. Mi. 6.16. Pr. 29.2,12. Mal. 3.15,16.