Psalm 12 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

Psalm 12[a]

Prayer against the Arrogance of Sinners

1 For the director.[b] “Upon the eighth.” A psalm of David.

2 Help, O Lord, for there are no godly left;
the faithful have vanished from the human race.
3 Neighbors utter lies to each other;
they speak with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.[c]
4 May the Lord destroy all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue,
5 those who say, “We will prevail by our tongues;
with our lips as our ally,
who can lord it over us?”
6 “The poor have been oppressed,
and those who are needy groan.
Therefore, I will rise up now,” says the Lord;
“I will grant them the safety
for which they long.”
7 And the promises of the Lord are certain;
they are like silver refined in a furnace
and purified seven times.[d]
8 [e]You, O Lord, will watch over us
and preserve us from this generation forever.
9 For the wicked prowl on every side,
and what is vile is exalted by mankind.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 12:1 The psalmist, surrounded by the treachery and arrogance of sinners (see Mic 7:1-7), calls for help and is certain that God will judge them as their iniquity reaches its zenith. The words of the Lord can be fully relied on, whereas the boastful words of the adversaries are completely futile.
    We Christians can make this supplication our own, for we feel deeply every disorder in the social realm. Eager for justice, we are outraged by every injustice, every disloyalty and fraud in social relations.
  2. Psalm 12:1 For the director: these words are thought to be a musical or liturgical notation. Upon the eighth: see note on Ps 6:1.
  3. Psalm 12:3 Hearts: see note on Ps 4:8.
  4. Psalm 12:7 Purified seven times: the number seven signified fullness or completeness; hence the phrase means “refined through and through.” The words of the Lord are absolutely pure and true (see Pss 18:31; 19:8; Prov 30:5).
  5. Psalm 12:8 The psalmist voices his confidence that, although the wicked are at present lording it over the righteous, God will take care of the latter.

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 12 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

12 To the Overseer, on the octave. -- A Psalm of David. Save, Jehovah, for the saintly hath failed, For the stedfast have ceased From the sons of men: 2 Vanity they speak each with his neighbour, Lip of flattery! With heart and heart they speak. 3 Jehovah doth cut off all lips of flattery, A tongue ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

12 To the victory, on the eighth, the song of David. Lord, make thou me safe, for the holy (man) failed; for truths be made little from the sons of men. (To victory, on the eighth, the psalm of David. Lord, save thou me, for there be no more holy people; the faithful be made few, if any, among the s...
Read More

Psalm 12 - World English Bible (WEB)

For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.12 Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, an...
Read More

Psalm 12 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 12For the worship leader. A song of David accompanied by the lyre.[a]1 Help me, O Eternal One, for I can’t find anyone who follows You. The faithful have fallen out of sight.2 Everyone tells lies through sweet-talking lips and speaks from a hollow and deceptive heart. 3 May the Eternal silence...
Read More

Psalm 12 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Silence the Flattering LipsPsalm 121 For the music director, on the eight-string lyre, a psalm of David.2 Help, Adonai! For no one godly exists.For the faithful have vanished from the children of men.3 Everyone tells a lie to his neighbor,talking with flattering lips and a divided heart.4 May Adonai...
Read More

Psalm 12 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.12 Help, Lord; for there is no longer any that is godly; for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men.2 Every one utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.12 Help, Lord; for there is no longer any that is godly; for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men.2 Every one utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 12Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind.2 They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the Lord ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 12Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind.2 They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the Lord ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 12Plea for Help in Evil TimesTo the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1 Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind.(A)2 They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a deceitful heart they speak.(B)3 May t...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 12For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.[a]1 Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!2 Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.3 May the Lord cut o...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New Life Version (NLV)

God—Our Helper12 Help, Lord! For God-like men are here no more. The faithful can no longer be seen among the sons of men. 2 They lie to each other. Their lips speak with sweet-sounding words that are not true. 3 May the Lord cut off all lips of false respect, and the tongue that speaks of great th...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Man’s Treachery and God’s ConstancyTo the Chief Musician. (A)On [a]an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.12 Help,[b] Lord, for the godly man (B)ceases!For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.2 (C)They speak idly everyone with his neighbor;With flattering lips and [c]a double heart t...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 12[a]For the director of music. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.1 Help, Lord, for no one is faithful any more; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.2 Everyone lies to their neighbour; they flatter with their lips but harbour deception in their hearts. 3 May the Lor...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New International Version (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 t...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 12For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.1 Help, Lord! No one does what is right anymore. Those who are faithful have disappeared from the human race.2 Everyone tells lies to their neighbors. With their lips they praise others, but they don’t really mean it. 3 May ...
Read More

Psalm 12 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 12[a]For the music director, according to the sheminith style;[b] a psalm of David.12 Deliver, Lord!For the godly[c] have disappeared;[d]people of integrity[e] have vanished.[f]2 People lie to one another;[g]they flatter and deceive.[h]3 May the Lord cut off[i] all flattering lips,and the tong...
Read More