Psalms 12–8
Psalm 12:1-8
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Psa.12.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- השמינית: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- מזמור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 3:1 (structural): Another psalm bearing the superscription 'מזמור לדוד' — parallels Psalm 12:1 in assigning Davidic authorship and providing a liturgical/musical heading.
- 2 Samuel 23:1–2 (thematic): Describes David as speaking under divine inspiration ('the Spirit of the LORD spoke by me'), supporting the claim of Davidic authorship found in psalm superscriptions like Psalm 12:1.
- Acts 4:25 (thematic): The New Testament explicitly attributes the words of the Psalms to David ('by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David'), echoing the authorial attribution in Psalm 12:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the choirmaster upon the Sheminith. A psalm of David.
- To the choirmaster. On the eighth. A psalm of David.
Psa.12.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הושיעה: VERB,hiph,imp,2,ms
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- גמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- חסיד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- פסו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אמונים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מבני: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cs
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Micah 7:2-3 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language and theme—"the faithful/faithful ones have been swept away; not one upright remains"—echoing the complaint that the godly/faithful are gone among men.
- Isaiah 59:14-15 (thematic): Describes truth and justice failing in the land and righteousness being absent, paralleling the Psalmist's lament that faithful people have ceased and prompting a plea for God's intervention.
- Jeremiah 5:1-2 (thematic): Jeremiah's search for anyone who seeks justice or truth among the people and the failure to find such persons parallels the Psalm's observation that faithful ones are lacking among mankind.
- Romans 3:10-12 (thematic): Paul's indictment that no one is righteous or seeks God resonates with the Psalmist's claim that faithful people have ceased—both stress human unfaithfulness and the need for God's saving action.
Alternative generated candidates
- Help, O LORD; for the godly have vanished—faithfulness has failed among the children of men.
- Save, O LORD; for the godly have ceased; the faithful have vanished from among the children of men.
Psa.12.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שוא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ידברו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- רעהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- שפת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- חלקות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- בלב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,const
- ידברו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 5:9 (verbal): Speaks of the lack of faithfulness in people's mouths and their wicked inwardness—parallels the complaint about deceitful, insincere speech.
- Psalm 55:21 (thematic): Describes words that are 'smoother than butter' while harboring conflict—echoes the contrast between flattering speech and deceitful hearts.
- Proverbs 26:28 (verbal): Mentions a 'flattering mouth' that brings ruin—directly parallels the motif of flattering lips in Psalm 12:3.
- Jeremiah 9:4 (thematic): Warns against trusting neighbors because of widespread deceit and treachery—connects to the theme of mutual falsehood and betrayal.
- Psalm 41:8 (thematic): Speaks of enemies whispering and conspiring together against the psalmist—similar to 'each one speaks with his neighbor' and secretive, harmful talk.
Alternative generated candidates
- Falsehood! Each one speaks to his neighbor; with flattering lip and a double heart they speak.
- Each one utters falsehood to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
Psa.12.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יכרת: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- שפתי: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- חלקות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לשון: NOUN,f,sg,constr
- מדברת: VERB,qal,part,3,f,sg
- גדלות: ADJ,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 120:2-3 (verbal): Petition for rescue from 'lying lips' and a 'deceitful tongue' echoes Ps 12:4's plea against flattering/proud speech.
- Psalm 5:9 (verbal): Describes the wicked as flattering with their tongue and speaking falsehoods—closely parallels the condemnation of smooth, boastful speech in Ps 12:4.
- Proverbs 26:28 (thematic): States that a flattering mouth works ruin, paralleling the idea that flattering/proud speech causes harm and should be cut off.
- Romans 3:13-14 (allusion): Paul cites Old Testament language about deceitful tongues and destructive speech ('their throat is an open grave')—reflects the same denouncement of corrupt, flattering speech found in Ps 12:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that utters proud boasts.
- May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that utters proud boasting.
Psa.12.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אמרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ללשננו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,poss,1,pl
- נגביר: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,pl
- שפתינו: NOUN,f,pl,poss,1,pl
- אתנו: PRON,1,pl
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- אדון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Exod.5.2 (verbal): Pharaoh’s question “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him?” echoes the defiant rhetorical challenge “Who is lord over us?”—both assert independence from divine authority.
- Judg.21.25 (structural): “In those days there was no king… every man did that which was right in his own eyes” parallels the social disorder and claim to self‑rule expressed in Ps 12:5’s ‘who is lord over us?’
- Psalm 10.4 (thematic): Describes the wicked’s pride and refusal to seek God—thematically parallel to the boasting in Ps 12:5 that their speech and freedom place them above any lord.
- Rom.1.21-23 (thematic): Paul’s description of humanity’s rejection of God and self‑exaltation (exchanging God’s glory for themselves) parallels the Psalm’s motif of people asserting their own authority and independence from the Lord.
Alternative generated candidates
- Those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own—who is lord over us?"
- They say, "With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own—who is lord over us?"
Psa.12.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- משד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עניים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מאנקת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אביונים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- עתה: ADV
- אקום: VERB,qal,impf,1,m,sg
- יאמר: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשית: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- בישע: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יפיח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 10:14 (thematic): Both verses depict God as aware of the suffering of the needy and taking action on their behalf — seeing their trouble and acting as their helper or arising to save them.
- Psalm 82:3-4 (thematic): Calls to rescue and defend the weak and needy parallel Psalm 12:6’s promise that the LORD will arise and set the afflicted in safety.
- Isaiah 1:17 (thematic): Imperative to seek justice and defend the oppressed echoes the same concern for the poor and needy that prompts God’s intervention in Psalm 12:6.
- Psalm 146:7-9 (thematic): Describes Yahweh executing justice for the oppressed, feeding the hungry and protecting the downtrodden — a broader statement of the divine action to secure the needy like Psalm 12:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, now I will rise up, says the LORD: I will set him in safety.
- For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy—now I will arise, says the LORD; I will set him in safety; I will give him the salvation he seeks.
Psa.12.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אמרות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אמרות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- טהרות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צרוף: ADJ,m,sg
- בעליל: ADV
- לארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מזקק: VERB,piel,ptcp,m,sg
- שבעתים: ADV
Parallels
- Proverbs 30:5 (verbal): Direct verbal parallel: 'Every word of God is pure' closely matches Psalm 12:7's 'the words of the LORD are pure,' both affirming the purity of divine speech.
- Psalm 18:30 (verbal): Uses the language of tested/tried divine speech ('the word of the LORD is tried'); parallels the furnace/refining imagery and the idea of God's word as proven and reliable.
- Psalm 119:140 (verbal): Echoes the same adjective for God's word ('Thy word is very pure'), reinforcing the theme of purity and the believer's affection for God's pure speech.
- Psalm 19:7 (thematic): Affirms the perfection and trustworthiness of God's revelation ('The law of the LORD is perfect'), thematically resonating with Psalm 12:7's emphasis on the purity and tested nature of divine words.
Alternative generated candidates
- The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the earth, purified seven times.
- The words of the LORD are pure words; like silver refined in a furnace on the earth, purified seven times.
Psa.12.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- תשמרם: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- תצרנו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- הדור: NOUN,m,sg,def
- זו: PRON,dem,f,sg
- לעולם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 121:7-8 (verbal): Both verses use the language of God keeping/guarding his people and conclude with preservation 'forever' or 'forevermore'—divine protection of comings and goings for all time.
- Psalm 37:28 (verbal): Affirms that the LORD will not abandon the godly and that God preserves his people; echoes the promise of preservation from a corrupt generation.
- Isaiah 26:3-4 (thematic): Emphasizes God's keeping/preserving of those who trust him and calls for trust in the LORD 'forever,' paralleling the theme of divine preservation across time.
- 1 Peter 1:5 (thematic): New Testament reflection of the same idea: believers are 'guarded by God's power' through faith and kept for salvation—parallel theme of divine preservation of the faithful.
Alternative generated candidates
- You, O LORD, will keep them; you will preserve us from this generation forever.
- You, O LORD, will preserve them; you will guard them from this generation forever.
To the choirmaster upon the Sheminith. A psalm of David.
Help, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; the faithful have vanished from among the children of men.
Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that utters lofty things.
Who have said, 'By our tongues we will prevail; our lips are our own—who is lord over us?'
Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise, says the LORD; I will set him in safety.
The words of the LORD are pure words—silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times.
You, O LORD, will keep them; you will preserve them from this generation forever.