Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm XII (12)
Cantillated — Lament Divine Pivot
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 12 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־הַשְּׁמִינִ֗ית מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
הוֹשִׁ֣יעָה יְ֭הוָה כִּי־גָמַ֣ר חָסִ֑יד כִּי־פַ֥סּוּ אֱ֝מוּנִ֗ים מִבְּנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
שָׁ֤וְא ׀ יְֽדַבְּרוּ֮ אִ֤ישׁ אֶת־רֵ֫עֵ֥הוּ שְׂפַ֥ת חֲלָק֑וֹת בְּלֵ֖ב וָלֵ֣ב יְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃
May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,
יַכְרֵ֣ת יְ֭הוָה כָּל־שִׂפְתֵ֣י חֲלָק֑וֹת לָ֝שׁ֗וֹן מְדַבֶּ֥רֶת גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃
who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”
אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָֽמְר֨וּ ׀ לִלְשֹׁנֵ֣נוּ נַ֭גְבִּיר שְׂפָתֵ֣ינוּ אִתָּ֑נוּ מִ֖י אָד֣וֹן לָֽנוּ׃
“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.”
מִשֹּׁ֥ד עֲנִיִּים֮ מֵאַנְקַ֪ת אֶבְי֫וֹנִ֥ים עַתָּ֣ה אָ֭קוּם יֹאמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה אָשִׁ֥ית בְּ֝יֵ֗שַׁע יָפִ֥יחַֽ לֽוֹ׃
Yahweh’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.
אִֽמֲר֣וֹת יְהוָה֮ אֲמָר֪וֹת טְהֹ֫ר֥וֹת כֶּ֣סֶף צָ֭רוּף בַּעֲלִ֣יל לָאָ֑רֶץ מְ֝זֻקָּ֗ק שִׁבְעָתָֽיִם׃
You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.
אַתָּֽה־יְהוָ֥ה תִּשְׁמְרֵ֑ם תִּצְּרֶ֓נּוּ ׀ מִן־הַדּ֖וֹר ז֣וּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃
The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
סָבִ֗יב רְשָׁעִ֥ים יִתְהַלָּכ֑וּן כְּרֻ֥ם זֻ֝לּ֗וּת לִבְנֵ֥י אָדָֽם׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
Save, O LORD
save, O LORD
Save, O LORD
for the faithful are gone
the faithful are gone
truth has vanished
from the sons of men
They speak emptiness
each to his neighbor
smooth lips
a double heart
Cut them off, O LORD
cut off the lips
the flattering lips
the proud tongue
Cut them off
cut them off
They say
"our tongue will prevail"
"our lips are with us"
Who is lord over us
who is lord
Because of the oppression of the poor
because of the groaning of the needy
Now I will arise
says the LORD
I will set him in safety
I will place him in safety
The words of the LORD
are pure words
silver refined
in a furnace of earth
purified seven times
You will keep them, O LORD
You will guard him
from this generation
forever
forever
The wicked walk on every side
when vileness is exalted
among the sons of men
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.