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Psalm 12
Contemporary English Version

(A psalm by David for the music leader.[a])

A Prayer for Help

1 Please help me, Lord!
    All who were faithful
and all who were loyal
    have disappeared.
2 Everyone tells lies,
    and no one is sincere.
3 Won't you chop off
all flattering tongues
    that brag so loudly?
4 They say to themselves,
“We are great speakers.
    No one else has a chance.”

5 But you, Lord, tell them,
    “I will do something!
The poor are mistreated
and helpless people moan.
    I'll rescue all who suffer.”

6 Our Lord, you are true
    to your promises,
and your word is like silver
heated seven times
    in a fiery furnace.[b]
7 You will protect us
and always keep us safe
    from those people.
8 But all who are wicked
    will keep on strutting,
while everyone praises
    their shameless deeds.[c]

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12 leader: The Hebrew text adds “according to the sheminith,” which may be a musical instrument with eight strings.
  2. 12.6 in a fiery furnace: The Hebrew text has “in a furnace to the ground,” which may describe part of a process for refining silver in Old Testament times.
  3. 12.8 while … deeds: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
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Psalm 12
New International Version

Psalm 12[a]

For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;(A)
    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies(B) to their neighbor;
    they flatter with their lips
    but harbor deception in their hearts.(C)

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

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

7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe(N)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,(O)
8 who freely strut(P) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
  2. Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
  3. Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
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