Plea for Help in Evil Times
1Help, O Lord, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind. 2They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, 4those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail; our lips are our own—who is our master?” 5“Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now rise up,” says the Lord; “I will place them in the safety for which they long.” 6The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,A David Psalm (The message)
1-2 Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last
decent person just went down, All
the friends I depended on gone. Everyone talks in lie
language; Lies slide off their oily lips. They
doubletalk with forked tongues.
3-4 Slice their lips off their faces! Pull The braggart tongues from their mouths! I'm tired of hearing, "We can talk anyone into anything! Our lips manage the world." 5 Into the hovels of the poor, Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks: "I've had enough; I'm on my way To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched." 6-8 God's words are pure words, Pure silver words refined seven times In the fires of his word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in heaven. God, keep us safe from their lies, From the wicked who stalk us with lies, From the wicked who collect honors For their wonderful lies.
3-4 Slice their lips off their faces! Pull The braggart tongues from their mouths! I'm tired of hearing, "We can talk anyone into anything! Our lips manage the world." 5 Into the hovels of the poor, Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks: "I've had enough; I'm on my way To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched." 6-8 God's words are pure words, Pure silver words refined seven times In the fires of his word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in heaven. God, keep us safe from their lies, From the wicked who stalk us with lies, From the wicked who collect honors For their wonderful lies.
1 Help, LORD, for (A)the
godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. 2
They (B)speak
[b]falsehood to
one another; With (C)flattering
[c]lips and
with a double heart they speak. 3 May the LORD cut off all
flattering lips, The tongue that (D)speaks
great things; 4 Who (E)have
said, “With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are [d]our own; who
is lord over us?” 5 “Because of the (F)devastation
of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now (G)I
will arise,” says the LORD; “I will (H)set
him in the safety for which he longs.” 6 The (I)words
of the LORD are pure words;
As silver (J)tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times. 7 You, O LORD, will keep them;
You will (K)preserve him from this generation forever. 8 The (L)wicked strut about on every side
When [e](M)vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
As silver (J)tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times. 7 You, O LORD, will keep them;
You will (K)preserve him from this generation forever. 8 The (L)wicked strut about on every side
When [e](M)vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
Footnotes:
a.
Psalm 12:1 Or according
to a lower octave (Heb Sheminith)
b.
Psalm 12:2 Or emptiness
c.
Psalm 12:2 Lit lip
d.
Psalm 12:4 Lit with
us
e.
Psalm 12:8 Or worthlessness
Cross references:
B.
Psalm 12:2 : Ps 10:7; 41:6
E.
Psalm 12:4 : Ps 73:8, 9
F.
Psalm 12:5 : Ps 9:9; 10:18
G.
Psalm 12:5 : Is 33:10
H.
Psalm 12:5 : Ps 34:6; 35:10
J.
Psalm 12:6 : Prov 30:5
L.
Psalm 12:8 : Ps 55:10, 11
M.
Psalm 12:8 : Is 32:5
