Psalms 12:3-8

3 Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud 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 afflicted, because of the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set [him] in safety, at whom they puff.

6 The words of Jehovah are pure words, silver tried in the furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 Thou, Jehovah, wilt keep them, thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8 The wicked walk about on every side, when vileness is exalted among the children of men.

Psalms 12:3-8 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit. 'great.'
• [b]. Lit. 'one puffeth:' see Ps. 10.5.
• [c]. Imrah: see Ps. 119.11.
• [d]. Or 'him:' see end of ver. 5.