Psalm 12
Table of Psalms << Psalm 12 >> | ||||||||||||||
General information
The Hebrew text of psalm 12 (11) features a nice example of numerical value as practised by Jewish theological tradition: the two halves of the psalm (2 - 5 about humans and 6 - 9 about God) are composed of exactly the same number of words, 37. The word value 37 is shared by the word 'loyal', which appears in the very first line (fideles in Latin) and seems to be a keyword of the whole text.
Settings by composers
- Heinrich Hartmann SSATB (German)
- Joseph Stephenson SATB (English, metrical New Version)
Text & translations
Clementine Vulgate (psalm 11)Latin text 1 In finem, pro octava. Psalmus David. 2 Salva me fac, Domine, quoniam defecit sanctus, quoniam diminutae sunt veritates 3 Vana locuti sunt unusquisque ad proximum suum; labia dolosa, 4 Disperdat Dominus universa labia dolosa, et linguam magniloquam. 5 Qui dixerunt: Linguam nostram magnificabimus; labia nostra a nobis sunt. 6 Propter miseriam inopum, et gemitum pauperum, nunc exsurgam, dicit Dominus. Ponam in salutari; fiducialiter 7 Eloquia Domini, eloquia casta; argentum igne examinatum, probatum terrae, 8 Tu, Domine, servabis nos, et custodies nos a generatione hac in aeternum. 9 In circuitu impii ambulant: secundum altitudinem tuam multiplicasti filios hominum. |
Church of England 1662 Book of Common PrayerEnglish text To the end, a psalm of David. 1 Help me, Lord, for there is not one godly man left : for the faithful are minished 2 They talk of vanity every one with his neighbour : they do but flatter with their lips, 3 The Lord shall root out all deceitful lips : and the tongue that speaketh proud things; 4 Which have said, With our tongue will we prevail : we are they that ought to speak , 5 Now for the comfortless trouble's sake of the needy : and because of the deep sighing of the poor, 6 I will up, saith the Lord : and will help every one from him that swelleth against him, 7 The words of the Lord are pure words : even as the silver, which from the earth is tried, 8 Thou shalt keep them, O Lord : thou shalt preserve him from this generation for ever. 9 The ungodly walk on every side : when they are exalted, the children of men are put to rebuke. |
King James Version
English text
1 Help, Lord: for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men,
2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak.
3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things;
4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
6 The words of the Lord are pure words: as silverin the furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
8 The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
Metrical 'New Version' (Tate and Brady)English text Since godly men decay, O Lord, |
Statenbijbel (1637)Dutch text 1 Een psalm van David, voor den opperzangmeester, op de Scheminith. 2 Behoud, o Here, want de goedertierene ontbreekt, want de getrouwen zijn weinig geworden onder de mensenkinderen. 3 Zij spreken valsheid, een ieder met zijn naaste, met vleiende lippen; zij spreken met een dubbel hart. 4 De Here snijde af alle vleiende lippen, de grootsprekende tong; 5 Die daar zeggen: Wij zullen de overhand hebben met onze tong; onze lippen zijn onze! Wie is heer over ons? 6 Om de verwoesting der ellendigen, om het kermen der nooddruftigen, zal Ik nu opstaan, zegt de Here; Ik zal in behoudenis zetten, dien hij aanblaast. 7 De redenen des Heren zijn reine redenen, zilver, gelouterd in een aarden smeltkroes, gezuiverd zevenmaal. 8 Gij, Here, zult hen bewaren; Gij zult hen behoeden voor dit geslacht, tot in eeuwigheid. 9 De goddelozen draven rondom, wanneer de snoodsten van des mensenkinderen verhoogd worden. Káldi fordítás (11. zsoltár)Hungarian translation
Szabadíts meg engem, Uram! mert fogynak a szentek; mert az igazmondás megkevesedett az emberek fiainál. |