Psalms 12

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 12

1¶ To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalm 12 is a lament by David, crying out to the LORD for help as godly and faithful men diminish. He describes the prevalent deceit and flattery among men, contrasting it with the LORD's promise to intervene against the proud and oppressive. The psalm concludes by affirming the purity of God's words and seeking His preservation amidst a corrupt generation where the wicked thrive.

Medium Summary

David begins Psalm 12 with a plea to the LORD, observing the decline of godly and faithful individuals. He characterizes the unrighteous as speaking vanity, employing flattering lips, and possessing double hearts. The psalmist expresses confidence that the LORD will silence such deceitful and proud tongues, especially those who boast of their own power and autonomy. In response to the oppression of the poor and the cries of the needy, the LORD declares His intention to arise and provide safety. This divine intervention is underscored by the contrast between human deceit and the absolute purity of the LORD's words, which are likened to silver refined seven times. The psalm concludes with a prayer for divine preservation from the corrupt generation, noting that the wicked are exalted and walk freely.

Long Summary

Psalm 12, a psalm of David, opens with an urgent supplication to the LORD, lamenting the severe decline of godly and faithful men among humanity. The psalmist vividly portrays the moral decay, describing how people speak vanity to their neighbors, using flattering lips and possessing deceitful, double hearts. He expresses a strong conviction that the LORD will decisively act against such wickedness, specifically cutting off all flattering lips and tongues that utter proud and boastful things. These proud individuals are depicted as those who believe their words grant them power, asserting their autonomy with the defiant question, "our lips are our own: who is lord over us?" In a pivotal declaration, the LORD Himself responds to the cries of the oppressed poor and the sighing needy, proclaiming His intention to arise and set them in safety from those who scorn them. This divine promise is immediately followed by a profound affirmation of the nature of God's communication: the words of the LORD are declared to be pure, likened to silver meticulously refined seven times in a furnace of earth, highlighting their absolute truth and reliability. Based on this divine purity and promise, the psalmist then prays for the LORD to keep and preserve His people and His pure words from the pervasive corruption of the current generation, acknowledging that the wicked are widespread and influential, particularly when the vilest men are exalted in society.

Core Concepts

  • Decline of GodlinessThe psalmist laments that godly and faithful men are ceasing from among the children of men, indicating a widespread moral and spiritual decay.
  • Deceitful SpeechThe chapter describes the ungodly as speaking vanity, employing flattering lips, and having a double heart, highlighting the prevalence of insincere and deceptive communication.
  • Divine Judgment on PrideThe LORD promises to cut off all flattering lips and tongues that speak proud things, specifically those who boast of their own linguistic power and autonomy.
  • God's Intervention for the OppressedThe LORD declares His intention to arise and provide safety for the poor and needy who are oppressed and sighing, responding to their suffering.
  • Purity of God's WordThe words of the LORD are affirmed as pure, likened to silver tried in a furnace of earth and purified seven times, contrasting with human deceit.
  • Preservation Amidst CorruptionThe psalmist prays for the LORD to preserve His people and His pure words from the corrupt and wicked generation.
  • Exaltation of the WickedThe observation that the wicked walk on every side when the vilest men are exalted, signifying a societal condition where moral standards are inverted and evil thrives.