Psalms 12:1-8

  • Jehovah rises up to act

    • God’s sayings are pure (6)

To the director; tuned to Shemʹi·nith.* A melody of David. 12  Save me, O Jehovah, for the loyal one is no more;Faithful people have vanished from among men.  2  They speak lies to one another;They flatter with their lips* and speak with deceitful hearts.*+  3  Jehovah will cut off all flattering lipsAnd the tongue that makes great boasts,+  4  Those who say: “We will prevail with our tongues. We use our lips as we please;Who will be our master?”+  5  “Because the afflicted are oppressed,Because of the sighing of the poor,+I will rise up to act,” says Jehovah. “I will save them from those who treat them with contempt.”*  6  The sayings of Jehovah are pure;+They are like silver refined in an earthen furnace,* purified seven times.  7  You will guard them, O Jehovah;+You will protect each one of them from this generation forever.  8  The wicked walk around unrestrainedBecause the sons of men promote depravity.+

Footnotes

Lit., “speak with a smooth lip.”
Lit., “with a heart and a heart.”
Or “puff at them.”
Or possibly, “a smelting furnace set on the ground.”