May the Lord cut off all [a]flattering lips,
The tongue that (A)speaks great things;
Who (B)have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are [b]our own; who is lord over us?”
“Because of the (C)devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now (D)I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will (E)put him in the safety for which he longs.”

The (F)words of the Lord are pure words;
Like silver (G)refined in a furnace on the ground, filtered seven times.
You, Lord, will keep them;
You will (H)protect him from this generation forever.
The (I)wicked strut about on every side
When [c](J)vileness is exalted among the sons of mankind.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:3 Lit a smooth lip
  2. Psalm 12:4 Lit with us
  3. Psalm 12:8 Or worthlessness

May the Lord silence all flattering lips(A)
    and every boastful tongue—(B)
those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;(C)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered(D) and the needy groan,(E)
    I will now arise,(F)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them(G) from those who malign them.”
And the words of the Lord are flawless,(H)
    like silver purified(I) in a crucible,(J)
    like gold[a] refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe(K)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,(L)
who freely strut(M) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth

They (A)mock and [a]wickedly speak of oppression;
They (B)speak from on high.
They have (C)set their mouth [b]against the heavens,
And their tongue [c]parades through the earth.

10 Therefore [d]his people return here,
And (D)abundant waters are drunk by them.
11 They say, “(E)How does God know?
And is there knowledge [e]with the Most High?”
12 Behold, (F)these are the wicked;
And always (G)at ease, they have increased in wealth.
13 Surely (H)in vain I have [f]kept my heart pure
And (I)washed my hands in innocence;
14 For I have been stricken (J)all day long,
And [g](K)punished every morning.

15 If I had said, “I will speak this way,”
Behold, I would have betrayed the (L)generation of Your children.
16 When I (M)thought of understanding this,
It was [h]troublesome in my sight
17 Until I entered the [i](N)sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their (O)end.
18 You indeed put them on (P)slippery ground;
You dropped them into [j](Q)ruin.
19 How they are [k](R)destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by (S)sudden terrors!
20 Like a (T)dream when one awakes,
Lord, when (U)stirred, You will (V)despise their image.

21 When my (W)heart was embittered
And I was (X)pierced [l]within,
22 Then I was (Y)stupid and ignorant;
I was like an (Z)animal [m]before You.
23 Nevertheless (AA)I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
24 You will (AB)guide me with Your plan,
And afterward (AC)receive me [n]to glory.

25 (AD)Whom do I have in heaven but You?
And with You, I desire nothing on earth.
26 My (AE)flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the [o]strength of my heart and my (AF)portion forever.
27 For, behold, (AG)those who are far from You will (AH)perish;
You have destroyed all those who [p](AI)are unfaithful to You.
28 But as for me, (AJ)the nearness of God is good for me;
I have made the Lord [q]God my (AK)refuge,
So that I may (AL)tell of all Your works.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:8 Or they speak in wickedness; From on high they speak of oppression
  2. Psalm 73:9 Or in
  3. Psalm 73:9 Lit walks
  4. Psalm 73:10 Or His
  5. Psalm 73:11 Lit in
  6. Psalm 73:13 Or cleansed my heart
  7. Psalm 73:14 Lit my punishment
  8. Psalm 73:16 Lit labor, trouble
  9. Psalm 73:17 Lit sanctuaries
  10. Psalm 73:18 Or deception
  11. Psalm 73:19 Lit become a desolation
  12. Psalm 73:21 Lit in my kidneys
  13. Psalm 73:22 Lit with You
  14. Psalm 73:24 Or with honor
  15. Psalm 73:26 Lit rock
  16. Psalm 73:27 Lit go to a whoring from
  17. Psalm 73:28 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord

They scoff, and speak with malice;(A)
    with arrogance(B) they threaten oppression.(C)
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
    and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
    and drink up waters in abundance.[a]
11 They say, “How would God know?
    Does the Most High know anything?”

12 This is what the wicked are like—
    always free of care,(D) they go on amassing wealth.(E)

13 Surely in vain(F) I have kept my heart pure
    and have washed my hands in innocence.(G)
14 All day long I have been afflicted,(H)
    and every morning brings new punishments.

15 If I had spoken out like that,
    I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand(I) all this,
    it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary(J) of God;
    then I understood their final destiny.(K)

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;(L)
    you cast them down to ruin.(M)
19 How suddenly(N) are they destroyed,
    completely swept away(O) by terrors!
20 They are like a dream(P) when one awakes;(Q)
    when you arise, Lord,
    you will despise them as fantasies.(R)

21 When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless(S) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast(T) before you.

23 Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.(U)
24 You guide(V) me with your counsel,(W)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?(X)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.(Y)
26 My flesh and my heart(Z) may fail,(AA)
    but God is the strength(AB) of my heart
    and my portion(AC) forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;(AD)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful(AE) to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.(AF)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;(AG)
    I will tell of all your deeds.(AH)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 73:10 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.