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Psalms · Bible in Basic English

Psalm 12 Bible in Basic English

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About BBE
  • Scholarly edition
  • OT: Masoretic Hebrew (not verified)
  • NT: Critical text (not verified)
  • Protestant (66 books)
  • Simplified language
  • 1965
  • Public domain

Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings

Notes on this text (1)
BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
1 For the chief music-maker on the Sheminith. A Psalm. Of David. Send help, Lord, for mercy has come to an end; there is no more faith among the children of men.
1 For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2 Everyone says false words to his neighbour: their tongues are smooth in their talk, and their hearts are full of deceit.
2 Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
3 The smooth lips and the tongue of pride will be cut off by the Lord.
3 May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,
4 They have said, With our tongues will we overcome; our lips are ours: who is lord over us?
4 who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”
5 Because of the crushing of the poor and the weeping of those in need, now will I come to his help, says the Lord; I will give him the salvation which he is desiring.
5 “Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”
6 The words of the Lord are true words: like silver tested by fire and burned clean seven times.
6 Yahweh’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.
7 You will keep them, O Lord, you will keep them safe from this generation for ever.
7 You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.
8 The sinners are walking on every side, and evil is honoured among the children of men.
8 The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
Cross references (8)

Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.

  1. 1 Isaiah 57:1; Jeremiah 5:1; Matthew 24:12; Isaiah 59:13–15; Isaiah 1:21–22
  2. 2 Romans 16:18; Jeremiah 9:8; Psalm 41:6; Psalm 144:8; Psalm 10:7
  3. 3 Proverbs 18:21; Revelation 13:5; Daniel 7:8; Psalm 17:10; Daniel 4:30–31
  4. 4 James 3:5–6; Job 21:14–15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Exodus 5:2; Jeremiah 18:18
  5. 5 Psalm 34:6; Proverbs 14:31; James 5:4; Psalm 146:7–8; Isaiah 33:10
  6. 6 Proverbs 30:5; Psalm 18:30; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 19:8; Psalm 66:10
  7. 7 1 Samuel 2:9; Psalm 121:8; Psalm 37:40; 1 Peter 1:5; Psalm 145:20
  8. 8 Mark 14:63–65; Proverbs 29:12; Psalm 55:10–11; Hosea 5:11; Isaiah 32:4–6

Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences

What the Fathers said

Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).

How these were chosen

“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).

  1. Commentary Augustine of Hippo, Expositions on the Psalms (Psalm XI)

    This title does not require a fresh consideration: for the meaning of, "to the end," has already been sufficiently handled.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)

  2. Quotes verse 12:3–5 Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians (Chapters XIV–XVIII)

    For the oppression of the poor, and for the sighing of the needy, will I now arise, saith the Lord: I will place him in safety; I will deal confidently with him." Chapter XVI — Christ as an example of humility For Christ is of those who are humble-minded, and not of those who exalt themselves over His flock.

    Read in context · Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1 (1885)

  3. Quotes verse 12:7 Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (Book XII, Chapters 10–12)

    "Death hath no more dominion over Him; and we ourselves after the resurrection shall be "ever with the Lord," to whom we now say, as the sacred Psalmist dictates, "Thou shall keep us, O Lord, Thou shall preserve us from this generation." And that too which follows, is, I think, appropriate enough: "The wicked walk in a circle," not because …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)

  4. Quotes verse 12:5 Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures (Lecture XIV)

    First, then, in the 11th Psalm He says, For the misery of the poor, and the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord.

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)

  5. Quotes verse 12:6 Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (Book XVII, Chapter 4)

    … quotes the saying, "A consummating and shortening word will the Lord make upon the earth?" But that money is put for the word the psalm is a witness, where it is sung, "The words of the Lord are pure words, money tried with the fire." What then does he say who comes to worship the priest of God, even the …

    Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)