Psalms 12:1-7

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 off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues.

4 They say, “We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own—who can stop us?”

5 The LORD replies, “I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.”

6 The LORD ’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.

7 Therefore, LORD, we know you will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation,

Psalms 12:1-7 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.