Psalm 12:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the Lord; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs."

NIV: "Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise," says the Lord. "I will protect them from those who malign them."

NASB: 'Because of the devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise,' says the Lord; 'I will put him in the safety for which he longs.'

CSB: "Because of the devastation of the needy and the groaning of the poor, I will now rise up," says the Lord. "I will provide safety for the one who longs for it."

NLT: The Lord replies, 'I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.”

In other psalms, David connected evil to abuse of the poor and helpless (Psalm 9:9; 10:2). In prior verses, he has complained that everyone around him has turned to deceptive speech and evil (Psalm 12:1–4). Here, David envisions God finally having enough of wickedness and choosing to act (Romans 2:5). This statement seems to be quoted later by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 33:10), referring to God's judgment.

In the time of Moses, the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, and their taskmasters treated them badly. However, the Lord saw the Hebrews' affliction and heard their cries. He told Moses: "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them" (Exodus 3:7–8). Jesus assured His followers they have no reason to fear, because God sees even the sparrow's fall, and He cares for His own (Matthew 10:29–31). Writing to the twelve tribes of the Dispersion, James assures his persecuted readers that God knows their troubles and will punish their oppressors (James 5:1–6). He appeals to his readers to wait patiently for the coming of the Lord (James 5:7–8).

Psalm 12:5–8 comes after David described oppressors of the poor and needy who boasted about their deeds and felt no accountability. In this section, David expresses assurance that God will intervene on behalf of the oppressed. The wicked spoke lies and deceptive words, but David reflects upon the Lord's words as pure and dependable. He is confident that the Lord will protect the afflicted.

In this short song, David mourns for what he sees as an entirely corrupt, evil culture. The people around him seem entirely filled with lies, flattery, and deception. These arrogant smooth-talkers think the power of their words will achieve whatever they desire. In contrast to the evil words the wicked employ, are the Lord's words. They are as pure and precious as silver refined seven times over in a furnace. David is confident that the Lord will protect His people from the harm their wicked contemporaries are inflicting. David concludes the psalm with a description of the widespread evil committed by the wicked. It is everywhere, and it is highly praised throughout the land.

This psalm reveals a basic contrast between the words of deceitful, flattering evildoers and the pure, reliable words of God. David laments the speech and behavior of a proud, deceitful culture. This brings to mind similar complaints from the Old Testament (Habakkuk 1:2–4; Psalm 22). He also expresses assurance that the Lord will protect him and all the righteous from their wicked contemporaries (Psalm 3:3).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.