Psalm 12:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

NIV: those who say, 'By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us--who is lord over us?'

NASB: Who have said, 'With our tongue we will prevail; Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?'

CSB: They say, "Through our tongues we have power; our lips are our own--who can be our master? "

NLT: They say, 'We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own — who can stop us?'

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

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

This discloses the crass attitude of the proud boasters. Both in David's era (Psalm 12:1–3) and today, arrogant "big talkers" assume they will always get away with deceptive language. Their ability to take advantage of weak or desperate people leads them to think they won't have to answer to anyone.

Modern culture, especially, overflows with those whose speech is corrupt. Technology and social media have made it easier for us to communicate, but this has also given arrogance and flattery a larger platform. The people depicted in David's complaint boast, slander others, curse, and profane God's holy name. The Commandment, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain" (Exodus 20:7), means nothing to them. They have no sense of accountability to God or man.

Those who revel in abusive, lying, foul, or deceptive speech believe their tongues are key in their quest for control of others. However, the apostle James differs with that notion. He writes: "No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). Proud, evil boasters are not using their tongues—their tongues are their masters and use them. Revelation 21:8 identifies the lake of fire as the final destination of those who live and breathe by their own lies.

Psalm 12:1–4 is a prayer of deliverance from proud, evil people who spread lies. David sees a perilous decline of righteous individuals. From his perspective, it seems as if the entire world has turned to evil. The wicked employ lies, flattery, and hypocrisy. They assume their actions won't result in consequences. Therefore, David prays for the Lord to put an end to such wicked people.

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.