Psalms 12:1-7

For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

1 ^[a][b]Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

2 Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.

3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—

4 those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold^[c] refined seven times.

7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked,

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.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 57:1; Micah 7:2
• 2. Psalms 5:6; Psalms 34:13; Psalms 141:3; Proverbs 6:19; Proverbs 12:17; Proverbs 13:3; Isaiah 32:7
• 3. Psalms 10:7; Psalms 41:6; Psalms 55:21; S Psalms 5:9; Romans 16:18
• 4. Proverbs 26:28; Proverbs 28:23
• 5. Psalms 73:9; Daniel 7:8; James 3:5; Revelation 13:5
• 6. Proverbs 18:21; James 3:6
• 7. Psalms 44:24; Psalms 62:10; Psalms 72:14; Psalms 73:8; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Isaiah 3:15; Isaiah 5:7; Isaiah 30:12; Isaiah 59:13; Acts 7:34
• 8. S Psalms 6:6
• 9. Psalms 3:7
• 10. Psalms 10:18; Psalms 34:6; Psalms 35:10
• 11. S 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalms 18:30; Proverbs 30:5
• 12. S Job 23:10; S Job 28:1; Isaiah 48:10; Zechariah 13:9
• 13. Psalms 119:140
• 14. Psalms 16:1; Psalms 27:5
• 15. Psalms 37:28; John 17:12

Footnotes

• [a]. In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
• [b]. Title: Probably a musical term
• [c]. Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text "earth"