Psalm 12:1-6

1 <> Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. With flattering lips, and with a double heart, do they speak.

3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, And the tongue that boasts,

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 weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says Yahweh; "I will set him in safety from those who malign him."

6 The words of Yahweh are flawless words, As silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

Psalm 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.