THE WORDS OF THE LORD ARE FLAWLESS
Key verse: 6
NIV
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?”
Footnotes
- Psalm 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-8 is numbered 12:2-9.
- Psalm 12:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 12:6 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text earth
Cross references
- Psalm 12:1 : Isa 57:1; Mic 7:2
- Psalm 12:2 : Ps 5:6; 34:13; 141:3; Pr 6:19; 12:17; 13:3; Isa 32:7
- Psalm 12:2 : S Ps 5:9; Ro 16:18
- Psalm 12:3 : Pr 26:28; 28:23
- Psalm 12:3 : Ps 73:9; Da 7:8; Jas 3:5; Rev 13:5
- Psalm 12:4 : Pr 18:21; Jas 3:6
- Psalm 12:5 : Ps 44:24; 62:10; 72:14; 73:8; Ecc 4:1; 5:8; Isa 3:15; 5:7; 30:12; 59:13; Ac 7:34
- Psalm 12:5 : S Ps 6:6
- Psalm 12:5 : Ps 3:7
- Psalm 12:5 : Ps 34:6; 35:10
- Psalm 12:6 : S 2Sa 22:31; Ps 18:30
- Psalm 12:6 : S Job 23:10; S 28:1; Isa 48:10; Zec 13:9
- Psalm 12:6 : Ps 119:140
- Psalm 12:7 : Ps 16:1; 27:5
- Psalm 12:7 : Ps 37:28; Jn 17:12
- Psalm 12:8 : Ps 55:10-11
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Faithful Have Vanished
To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith.[a] A Psalm of David.12 Save, O Lord, for (A)the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
2 Everyone (B)utters lies to his neighbor;
with (C)flattering lips and (D)a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all (E)flattering lips,
the tongue that makes (F)great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
5 “Because (G)the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
(H)I will now arise,” says the Lord;
“I will place him in the (I)safety for which he longs.”
6 (J)The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord, will keep them;
you will guard us[b] from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.
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Footnotes
- Psalm 12:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 12:7 Or guard him
Cross references
- Psalm 12:1 : Isa. 57:1; Mic. 7:2
- Psalm 12:2 : Ps. 41:6; 144:8
- Psalm 12:2 : Ps. 5:9; Jer. 9:8; Rom. 16:18
- Psalm 12:2 : 1 Chr. 12:33; James 1:8
- Psalm 12:3 : [See ver. 2 above]; Ps. 5:9; Jer. 9:8; Rom. 16:18
- Psalm 12:3 : Dan. 7:8; Rev. 13:5; [Ps. 17:10]
- Psalm 12:5 : Ps. 9:12
- Psalm 12:5 : Isa. 33:10; [Ps. 82:8]
- Psalm 12:5 : See Ps. 55:18
- Psalm 12:6 : Ps. 18:30; 119:140; Prov. 30:5; [Ps. 19:8]
12 Save, O Lord, for (A)the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
2 Everyone (B)utters lies to his neighbor;
with (C)flattering lips and (D)a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all (E)flattering lips,
the tongue that makes (F)great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
5 “Because (G)the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
(H)I will now arise,” says the Lord;
“I will place him in the (I)safety for which he longs.”
6 (J)The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord, will keep them;
you will guard us[b] from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.
Footnotes
- Psalm 12:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 12:7 Or guard him
Cross references
- Psalm 12:1 : Isa. 57:1; Mic. 7:2
- Psalm 12:2 : Ps. 41:6; 144:8
- Psalm 12:2 : Ps. 5:9; Jer. 9:8; Rom. 16:18
- Psalm 12:2 : 1 Chr. 12:33; James 1:8
- Psalm 12:3 : [See ver. 2 above]; Ps. 5:9; Jer. 9:8; Rom. 16:18
- Psalm 12:3 : Dan. 7:8; Rev. 13:5; [Ps. 17:10]
- Psalm 12:5 : Ps. 9:12
- Psalm 12:5 : Isa. 33:10; [Ps. 82:8]
- Psalm 12:5 : See Ps. 55:18
- Psalm 12:6 : Ps. 18:30; 119:140; Prov. 30:5; [Ps. 19:8]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Flattering lips (1-4)
David laments over the disappearance of the godly people and the presence of those who speak with flattering lips and a deceptive heart. He couldn't hear honest and truthful words from people around him, but only their lies, flatteries, proud boast, and corrupt chat. Today, the godly and faithful seem to appear very small and insignificant and be outnumbered by the godless people. And God's people need discernment because there are many who deceive the hearts of the simple by their smooth lie and flattery.
2. The flawless words of the Lord (5-8)
In contrast to lying, flattering, and proud lips of people, God's words are flawless and pure like silver or gold that has been refined many times (6). So God's words are trustworthy and dependable. Because of the Lord's flawless words of promise to arise and protect the needy (5), David is confident in saying, 'You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked…' (7). God's people are those who know the true and pure words of God and find their confidence in God.
Prayer: Lord, help us to discern the devil's lie and deception and trust and obey your flawless words.
One Word: God's word is trustworthy
