Psalm 12

1. Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
3. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4. Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
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.
6. The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
8. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

Psalm 12 begins with a cry for help from the psalmist, who laments the scarcity of godly and faithful individuals among humanity. The psalmist observes the prevalence of deceit and flattery among people, with many speaking falsehoods and harboring duplicity in their hearts.

In response to the proliferation of deceit, the psalmist trusts in the Lord’s judgment and intervention. They express confidence that God will silence the lying lips and proud tongues of the wicked who seek to manipulate and deceive for their own gain.

God’s commitment to justice is underscored by His promise to protect and deliver the oppressed and needy from those who seek to harm them. The psalmist believes that God will act on behalf of the marginalized, ensuring their safety and security.

The psalmist contrasts the impurity of human speech with the purity of God’s words, likening them to refined silver. They affirm their trust in God’s eternal preservation of His pure and unchanging truth, which stands in stark contrast to the deceitfulness of the wicked.

Despite the prevalence of wickedness and deceit in the world, the psalmist acknowledges the sovereignty of God. They recognize that the wicked may appear to prosper and abound, but their exaltation is temporary and fleeting in the grand scheme of God’s eternal plan.

In summary, Psalm 12 serves as a lament over the moral decay and deceitfulness present in humanity, while also expressing trust in God’s righteous judgment and commitment to preserving His truth and protecting the oppressed.