Psalm-12

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of Thy Law!

Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..

(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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“Tehillim - Pslam 12”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Foreword:

Psalm 12 is a short, urgent lament by David about the decline of honest speech and the rise of deceit. Below the actual Psalm is the ‘verse by verse’ item with explanation’s of all verses.

Introduction:

Psalm 12 (a mizmor of David) responds to social collapse: the faithful are few and falsehood abounds. The Psalm moves from complaint to petition and ends with trust in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s preserving Word. Hebraic tradition reads it as both a personal cry and a communal warning about speech, integrity, and Divine rescue!

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Let us now read Tehillim - Psalms Chapter 12: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. For the Leader; on the Sheminith. A Psalm of David.
2. Help, יְהוָה - LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
3. They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour; with flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.
4. May יְהוָה - the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things!
5. Who have said: 'Our tongue will we make mighty; our lips are with us: who is lord over us?'
6. 'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy,
now will I arise', saith יְהוָה - the LORD; 'I will set him in safety at whom they puff.'
7. The words of יְהוָה - the LORD are pure words,
as silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times.
8. Thou wilt keep them, O יְהוָה - LORD; Thou wilt preserve us from this generation for ever.
9. The wicked walk on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

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Let us now look at the ‘verse by verse’ item complete with explanations:

v 1: “Help, O יְהוָה - LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail among the children of men”.

Explanation: A cry for help: the righteous are disappearing and trustworthiness is rare. The Psalmist frames the crisis as moral, not merely political.

v 2: “They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak”.

Explanation: The sin named is ‘lashon’, deceptive speech. The image of “double heart” indicts hypocrisy; words are used to manipulate rather than to bind community.

v 3: “יְהוָה - the Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things”.

Explanation: A prophetic assurance that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim will judge corrupt speech. In Hebrew ethics, speech that destroys trust is a communal poison and invites Divine correction.

v 4: “Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?”

Explanation: This mocks the arrogance of those who believe they answer to no moral authority. The psalm counters: speech has consequences and is accountable to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.

v 5: “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith יְהוָה - the LORD; I will set him in safety”.

Explanation: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s response is social as well as judicial: He will defend the vulnerable whom deceit and flattery have harmed. This verse is the turning point from complaint to Divine promise.

v 6: “The words of יְהוָה - the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times”.

Explanation: Contrasts human falsehood with the ‘temimut’ (purity) of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s word. The simile of refined silver evokes ritual and moral perfection אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s promises are trustworthy and tested.

v 7: “Thou shalt keep them, O יְהוָה - LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever”.

Explanation: A petition that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s pure words and the faithful remnant be preserved against a corrupt age; the Psalmist asks for continuity of truth.

v 8: “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted”.

Explanation: A lament about social inversion: the wicked prosper and the lowly are oppressed. This observation explains the Psalmist’s urgency.

v 9: “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith יְהוָה - the LORD.”

Explanation: The psalm closes by repeating אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s pledge to act for the oppressed—reassurance that Divine justice will answer human injustice.

My Concluding Message:

Tehillim - Psalm 12 teaches that speech shapes society: when truth fails, the vulnerable suffer; when אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s word is trusted, justice follows.

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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