Psalm 12: Translation and Notes

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1 To the chief musician upon Sheminith,1 a Psalm of David.
2 Save, O Jehovah, for the godly [man] hath ceased, for the faithful have failed from the sons of men.
3 They speak falsehood, every one with his neighbor; [with] a flattering lip, with a double heart do they speak.
4 Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, [the] tongue speaking great things.
5 Which have said, With our tongue will we be mighty; our lips are our own: who is lord to us?
6 Because of the oppression of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will place in safety [from] him that puffeth at him.
7 The words of Jehovah [are] pure words, silver refined in a crucible of earth, sevenfold purified.
8 Thou, O Jehovah, wilt keep them; thou wilt preserve him from this generation for ever.
9 The wicked walk round about when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
Notes on Psalm 12
This is “To the chief musician on the octave: a psalm of David,” as in Psalm 6. It is the plaintive prayer of the gracious man in presence of growing lawlessness; then comes in the value of Jehovah’s words before Himself arises to judge. Wickedness increases where righteousness was looked for. Such was the dreary state when Christ Himself was on earth, Who speaks of “this generation:” clearly a moral estimate which still abides, and will be found more and more till judgment overtake. It has nothing to do with a human life or chronology, as the context here unequivocally proves. Compare Psalm 14:55There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. (Psalm 14:5).
 
1. The eighth, or octave.