PsalmsChapter 12

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For the choirmaster: on the sheminith.[^1] A psalm of David. [^1]: A musical term of uncertain meaning; possibly an eight-stringed instrument or a lower octave.

Help, LORD, for the faithful are gone; the loyal have vanished from among the children of men.

Everyone lies to his neighbor; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, every tongue that boasts of great things—

those who say, "With our tongues we will prevail; our lips are our own—who is master over us?"

"Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, now I will arise," says the LORD. "I will set them in the safety they long for."

The words of the LORD are pure words, silver refined in a furnace of earth, purified seven times over.

You, O LORD, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever.

The wicked prowl on every side when vileness is exalted among the children of men.

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Summary2

Chapter 12

Main Theme: A lament over falsehood and lying among people, with trust in God’s pure word and his promise to protect the weak.

Content: David cries out to the Lord because the godly and faithful seem to have disappeared. People speak falsehood with flattery and a double heart, and the proud ask, "Who is lord over us?" The Lord answers that he will now rise up to protect the poor and those in distress. The psalm concludes with confidence that God will preserve his people against this evil generation.

Key Words/Images:

Double heart (בְּלֵב וָלֵב): Describes the hypocrisy of those who say one thing but mean another.
Slippery lips: The deceitful use flattery and deception in their speech.
Silver refined seven times: God’s word is perfectly pure and reliable, in contrast to human lies.
The poor and those in distress: The vulnerable whom God promises to protect against oppressors.

Historical context

Key Concepts

"Sheminit" (הַשְּׁמִינִית)

The heading's instruction "al-hassjeminit" (verse 1) literally means "upon the eighth" and likely refers to a musical instrument tuned to a low register, or to a specific melodic form. The same term appears in Psalm 6 and 1 Chronicles 15:21, where it is linked with lyre playing. This suggests that the psalm was intended for liturgical performance with specific instrumental accompaniment.

"Flattering Lips" and "Double Heart" (שְׂפַת חֲלָקוֹת / בְּלֵב וָלֵב)

The expression "flattering lips" (verses 3–4) describes speech that is smooth and ingratiating, yet devoid of truth. "Heart and heart" (lev va-lev) is a Hebrew idiom for duplicity—having two hearts, meaning to say one thing while intending another. In wisdom literature and the prophets, such speech was regarded as especially detestable because it undermines the foundation of trust in society.

Silver Refined Seven Times (כֶּסֶף צָרוּף ... מְזֻקָּק שִׁבְעָתָיִם)

The image in verse 7 of silver refined "seven times" reflects ancient metallurgical practice. Archaeological finds from the Levant show that silver was melted and purified repeatedly in clay crucibles to remove impurities. The number seven symbolizes completeness in Hebrew thought, and the phrase emphasizes that the Lord's words are absolutely pure and reliable—in sharp contrast to human deceitful speech.

Events and Customs

Social Oppression and Legal Protection

The psalm's mention of "the ruin of the poor" and "the groaning of the needy" (verse 6) reflects a concrete social reality in ancient Israel. In a culture where oral agreements and testimony were crucial to the legal system, powerful people with "flattering lips" could manipulate court cases and drive the poor from their land and property. Prophets such as Amos and Isaiah condemned this same practice. The psalm gives voice to the powerless and assures that the Lord Himself will intervene as defender for those who have no one to plead their cause.

People1

David1

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Key words8

Lord — A title often used for God in the Old Testament, meaning the Almighty and Sovereign One.
Salvation — God's act of saving people from sin, death, and destruction, and giving them eternal life.
Prayer — Communication with God, usually through words, where people express gratitude, concerns, desires, and needs.
Enemies — Persons or forces that oppose, threaten, or harm someone, often used to describe evil powers against the righteous.
Righteous — People who follow God's will and live a moral and ethical life in accordance with His commands and teaching.
Refuge — A safe place or protection from dangers and threats, often used metaphorically to describe God's protection and care.
Wisdom — The ability to understand and act wisely, based on insight, experience, and knowledge. In the book of Psalms, wisdom is linked to following God's way.
Trust — Belief that someone or something is reliable and will keep promises, especially belief that God will fulfill His promises and remain faithful.