Psalms 12: The LORD's Pure Words

A complaint about deceit answered by trust in God's promises.

Psalms 12: Pure Words Amid Flattery

Following Psalms 11, David laments that godly, faithful people have grown rare while everyone around him speaks with flattering lips and a double heart. He asks the LORD to cut off proud, boastful speech that claims no one rules over it.


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.

\\12:1\\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.

\\12:2\\They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

\\12:3\\The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

\\12:4\\Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

\\12:5\\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.

\\12:6\\The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

\\12:7\\Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

\\12:8\\The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

In contrast to human deceit, David describes the words of the LORD as pure, like silver refined in a furnace and purified seven times, a standard of trustworthiness echoed in <a href="/bible/wbt/proverbs/chapter-30/5">Proverbs 30:5</a>, closing before <a href="/bible/wbt/psalms/chapter-13">Psalms 13</a>.