Psalm 12

New International Version

For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

1 Help, Lord, for no-one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.^[1] 2 Everyone lies to their neighbour; they flatter with their lips but harbour deception in their hearts. 3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue – 4 those who say, ‘By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us – who is lord over us?’ 5 ‘Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,’ says the Lord. ‘I will protect them from those who malign them.’ 6 And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold^[2] refined seven times. 7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us for ever from the wicked, 8 who freely strut about when what is vile is honoured by the human race.

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Psalm 12

King James Version

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. 2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. 3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? 5 For 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. 6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. 8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

Psalm 12

Elberfelder Bibel

from SCM Verlag

Psalm 12

1 Dem Chorleiter. Auf der Scheminith^[1]. Ein Psalm. Von David. 2 Rette, HERR! – denn der Getreue ist dahin, denn die Treuen sind verschwunden^[2] unter den Menschenkindern. (Mic 7:2) 3 Sie reden Lüge^[3], ein jeder mit seinem Nächsten; mit glatter Lippe, mit doppeltem Herzen reden sie. (Ps 55:22; Ps 116:11; Jer 9:8; Lu 20:20)

Ps 55:22Ps 116:11Jer 9:8Lu 20:20

4 Der HERR möge ausrotten alle glatten Lippen, die Zunge, die große Dinge redet, (Ps 140:12; Jas 3:5) 5 die da sagen: »Dank unserer Zunge sind wir überlegen, unsere Lippen sind mit uns; wer ist unser Herr?« (Ps 31:19; Ps 73:8) 6 Wegen der gewalttätigen Behandlung der Elenden, wegen des Seufzens der Armen will ich nun aufstehen, spricht der HERR; ich will in Sicherheit^[4] stellen den, den man bedroht^[5]. (Ex 3:7; Ps 9:13; Ps 76:10) 7 Die Worte des HERRN sind reine Worte – Silber, am Eingang^[6] zur Erde geläutert, siebenmal gereinigt. (Ps 18:31; Ps 19:9; Ps 119:140) 8 Du, HERR, wirst sie einhalten, wirst ihn behüten vor dieser Generation ewig. (Joh 17:15) 9 Ringsum wandeln Gottlose, während Gemeinheit emporkommt bei den Menschenkindern.