Psalms 12:2-8

2 Everyone lies to his neighbors; they say one thing and mean another.

3 The Lord will stop those flattering lips and cut off those bragging tongues.

4 They say, "Our tongues will help us win. We can say what we wish; no one is our master."

5 But the Lord says, "I will now rise up, because the poor are being hurt. Because of the moans of the helpless, I will give them the help they want."

6 The Lord's words are pure, like silver purified by fire, like silver purified seven times over.

7 Lord, you will keep us safe; you will always protect us from such people.

8 But the wicked are all around us; everyone loves what is wrong. For the director of music. A psalm of David.

Psalms 12:2-8 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.