Psalms 12:1-6

1 Help, Jehovah; For the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

3 Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;

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

5 Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will set him in the safety he panteth for.

6 The words of Jehovah are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times.

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.