Psalms 12:1-6

For the director of music. For "sheminith." A psalm of David.

1 Help, Lord! Those who do what is right are gone. Those who are faithful have disappeared from the earth.

2 Everyone tells lies to his neighbors. With his lips he praises others, but he doesn't really mean it.

3 May the LORD cut off all lips that don't mean what they say. May he cut out every tongue that brags.

4 They say, "We will win the battle with our tongues. Our lips belong to us. No one else is in charge of us."

5 The LORD says, "The weak are beaten down. Those who are in need groan. So I will stand up to help them. I will keep them safe from those who tell lies about them."

6 The words of the LORD are perfect. They are like silver made pure in a clay furnace. They are like silver made pure seven times over.

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Psalms 12:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, a Psalm of David. The word "sheminith" is used in the title of Psalm 6:1, and signifies "eighth"; and intends either the eighth note, to which the psalm was sung, or rather the harp of eight chords, to which it was set, as the Targum and Jarchi interpret it. Some Jewish writers {y} understand it of the times of the Messiah; and the Syriac version entitles the psalm, "an accusation of the wicked, and a prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah:" and the Arabic version says, it is concerning the end of the world, which shall be in the eighth day; and concerning the coming of the Messiah: but Arnobius interprets it of the Lord's day.

{y} Sepher Lekach Shechachah apud Caphtor, fol. 64. 1. & Ceseph Misnah in Maimon. Hilch. Teshuvah, c. 9.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Psalms 12:1-6

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For the director of music. For "sheminith." A psalm of David.

Psalms 12:1-6 Meaning and Commentary