Christianity

Psalms 12Pure Words Amid Lies

Summary

Psalm 12 laments that the faithful seem to have vanished and that people speak flattery and lies with double hearts. The proud boast that their tongues will prevail. God answers that he will arise for the oppressed and the needy, and the psalmist contrasts human deceit with the LORD's words, pure as silver refined seven times. It ends acknowledging that the wicked still strut about. The heading assigns it to David, upon Sheminith.

Key verse

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

Psalms 12:6

Themes

Truthful Speech
Flattery and Deceit
God's Word
Protection of the Poor

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Judaism
Tehillim 12 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
The term Sheminith in the heading, also found in Psalm 6, may mean an eight stringed instrument or a lower octave; its exact sense is unknown.
Christianity
James 3: Taming the Tongue
James 3 warns about the destructive power of speech and the inconsistency of blessing and cursing from one mouth, the same concern as the double heart of Psalm 12:2.

Questions about Psalms 12

What does purified seven times mean in Psalm 12?

It describes silver refined repeatedly until it is perfectly pure. Seven symbolizes completeness, so God's words are presented as wholly reliable.

Who are the faithful that fail in Psalm 12:1?

The psalmist means loyal, godly people in general, not a specific group. The complaint is that trustworthy people have become rare.