Psalms — Chapter 12

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1Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

1Help, Jehovah; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

3Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;

4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will set him in the safety he panteth for.

6The words of Jehovah are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times.

7Thou wilt keep them, O Jehovah, Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men. Psalm 13 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

1For the music director, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David. Deliver, Lord! For the godly have disappeared; people of integrity have vanished.

2People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.

3May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts!

4They say, “We speak persuasively; we know how to flatter and boast. Who is our master?”

5“Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action,” says the Lord. “I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.”

6The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.

7You, Lord, will protect the oppressed; you will continually shelter each one from these evil people,

8for the wicked seem to be everywhere, when people promote evil.

1Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

3May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

4who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”

5“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”

6Yahweh’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

7You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

8The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A lament over deceitful speech — the faithful have vanished, flattering lips and double hearts abound, but the words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined seven times.

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Communal Lament Attributed Author: David — "To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David" Key Themes: The disappearance of godly people, corrupt speech (flattery, lies, boasting), God's pure words contrasted with human deception, divine intervention for the oppressed
Historical Context: David laments a society where faithful people seem to have vanished and deceitful speech dominates. "Sheminith" (the eighth) again indicates a low-pitched musical setting. The central contrast is between human words (vv.2-4: flattery, lies, boasting) and God's words (v.6: pure as silver refined seven times). The psalm's great contribution is v.6 — one of the strongest statements of Scripture's purity in all the Bible. God's response (v.5) comes as a direct divine oracle mid-psalm: "Now will I arise." This is rare — God speaking directly within a psalm.
Structure:
  • Cry for Help — Faithful Have Vanished (v.1)
  • The Problem: Corrupt Speech (vv.2-4)
  • God's Direct Response (v.5)
  • The Purity of God's Words (v.6)
  • Trust in God's Preservation (vv.7-8)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Videos

The Bible Project — Psalms Overview

Reflection

  • 1. Faithfulness can feel lonely (v.1). The sense that godly people have disappeared is a recurring human experience. But remember: God told Elijah there were still 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal. You may feel alone — you are not.
  • 2. Human words are corrupt; God's words are pure (vv.2-4 vs. v.6). The contrast is absolute. In a world of flattery, deception, and boasting, only God's Word can be fully trusted. Seven-times- refined silver has no impurity. Build your life on words that have been tested and found perfect.
  • 3. The sighing of the needy moves God (v.5). Not eloquent prayer, not powerful advocacy — SIGHING. The inarticulate groan of the oppressed reaches God's ear and provokes Him to rise. If you can only sigh, that is enough.
  • 4. When vile people are exalted, wickedness multiplies (v.8). Culture flows from leadership. The character of those in power sets the moral tone for everyone. Pray for — and pursue — righteous leadership.
  • 5. God preserves what is His (v.7). Whether this refers to His words or His people (or both), the promise is preservation. What belongs to God does not perish. His truth endures; His people endure.