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New American Bible

2002 11 11
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Chapter 12

1

1 For the leader; "upon the eighth." A psalm of David.

2

Help, LORD, for no one loyal remains; the faithful have vanished from the human race

3

Those who tell lies to one another speak with deceiving lips and a double heart.

4

May the LORD cut off all deceiving lips, and every boastful tongue,

5

Those who say, "By our tongues we prevail; when our lips speak, who can lord it over us?"

6

"Because they rob the weak, and the needy groan, I will now arise," says the LORD; "I will grant safety to whoever longs for it."

7

2 The promises of the LORD are sure, silver refined in a crucible, silver purified seven times.

8

LORD, protect us always; preserve us from this generation.

9

On every side the wicked strut; the shameless are extolled by all.

 



1 [Psalm 12] A lament. The psalmist, thrown into a world where lying and violent people persecute the just (⇒ Psalm 12:2-3), prays that the wicked be punished (⇒ Psalm 12:4-5). The prayer is not simply for vengeance but arises from a desire to see God's justice appear on earth. ⇒ Psalm 12:6 preserves the word of assurance spoken by the priest to the lamenter; it is not usually transmitted in such psalms. In ⇒ Psalm 12:7-8 the psalmist affirms the intention to live by the word of assurance.



2 [Psalm 13] A crucible: lit. "in a crucible in the ground." The crucible was placed in the ground for support.





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