Psalms 12 (GNV)

Chapter Text

12:1 To him that excelleth upon the eight tune. A Psalme of Dauid. Helpe Lord, for there is not a godly man left: for the faithfull are fayled from among the children of men.

12:2 They speake deceitfully euery one with his neighbour, flattering with their lips, and speake with a double heart.

12:3 The Lord cut off all flattering lippes, and the tongue that speaketh proude things:

12:4 Which haue saide, With our tongue will we preuaile: our lippes are our owne: who is Lord ouer vs?

12:5 Now for the oppression of the needy, and for the sighes of the poore, I will vp, sayeth the Lord, and will set at libertie him, whom the wicked hath snared.

12:6 The wordes of the Lord are pure wordes, as the siluer, tried in a fornace of earth, fined seuen folde.

12:7 Thou wilt keepe them, O Lord: thou wilt preserue him from this generation for euer.

12:8 The wicked walke on euery side: when they are exalted, it is a shame for the sonnes of men.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "excelleth", "upon", "eight", "tune", "psalme", "dauid", and "helpe". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "excelleth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local GNV text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "faith" and "excelleth" carries the first interpretive weight. In The LORD as Shepherd, the local focus is trust, covenant mercy, guidance, and worship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "faith" and "excelleth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.