Psalms 12:1

For the music director; according to the sheminith style; ²  a psalm of David. Deliver, Lord! For the godly ³  have disappeared; ⁴  people of integrity ⁵  have vanished. ⁶ 

Ge 6:12; 1Ch 15:21; Ps 3:7; Ps 6:1; Ps 6:4; Ps 54:1; Pr 20:6; Isa 1:9,21,22; Isa 57:1; Isa 59:4,13-15; Isa 63:5; Jer 5:1; Mic 7:1,2; Mt 8:25; Mt 14:30; Mt 24:12

¹ sn Psalm 12. The psalmist asks the Lord to intervene, for society is overrun by deceitful, arrogant oppressors and godly individuals are a dying breed. When the Lord announces his intention to defend the oppressed, the psalmist affirms his confidence in the divine promise.

² tn The meaning of the Hebrew term שְׁמִינִית (shÿminit) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See 1 Chr 15:21.

³ tn The singular form is collective or representative. Note the plural form “faithful [ones]” in the following line. A “godly [one]” (חָסִיד, khasid) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 4:3; 18:25; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).

⁴ tn Or “have come to an end.”

⁵ tn Heb “the faithful [ones] from the sons of man.”

⁶ tn The Hebrew verb פָּסַס (pasas) occurs only here. An Akkadian cognate means “efface, blot out.”