Psalms 12:3-8

3 Jehovah doth cut off all lips of flattery, A tongue speaking great things,

4 Who said, `By our tongue we do mightily: Our lips [are] our own; who [is] lord over us?'

5 Because of the spoiling of the poor, Because of the groaning of the needy, Now do I arise, saith Jehovah, I set in safety [him who] doth breathe for it.

6 Sayings of Jehovah [are] pure sayings; Silver tried in a furnace of earth refined sevenfold.

7 Thou, O Jehovah, dost preserve them, Thou keepest us from this generation to the age.

8 Around the wicked walk continually, According as vileness is exalted by sons 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.