Psalms 12:1

¶ To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

To the chief Musician {H5329} upon Sheminith {H8067}, A Psalm {H4210} of David {H1732}. Help {H3467}, LORD {H3068}; for the godly man {H2623} ceaseth {H1584}; for the faithful {H539} fail {H6461} from among the children {H1121} of men {H120}.

For the leader. On sh'minit [low-pitched musical instruments?]. A psalm of David: Help, ADONAI! For no one godly is left; the faithful have vanished from humankind.

Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

Help, Jehovah; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Psalm 12:1 opens with a desperate cry from David, expressing deep distress over the apparent disappearance of righteousness and faithfulness in society. It is a lament that resonates across time, highlighting the struggle believers face when surrounded by moral decay.

Context

This psalm is titled "To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David." The phrase "upon Sheminith" (Hebrew: שְׁמִינִית, Sheminith) likely refers to a musical instruction, possibly indicating a lower octave, a bass instrument, or an eight-stringed instrument. This suggests the psalm was intended for public worship and perhaps for a somber, deep melody fitting its theme. David, the author, expresses a profound sense of isolation and concern for the moral state of his nation, indicating a period when integrity and truth were scarce.

Key Themes and Messages

  • A Cry for Divine Intervention: The opening plea, "Help, LORD," immediately establishes the psalm as a desperate appeal to God. David recognizes that human solutions are insufficient in the face of widespread corruption, echoing sentiments found in other psalms of distress like Psalm 3:1.
  • The Scarcity of Righteousness: The core lament is that "the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." This points to a perceived vanishing of devout, morally upright individuals, leaving David feeling alone and vulnerable.
  • Moral Decline and Corruption: The verse paints a picture of a society where truth and trustworthiness are diminishing, replaced by deceit and unreliability. This theme of moral decay is further elaborated in the verses that follow, which describe the prevalence of lies and flattery.

Linguistic Insights

  • The "godly man" translates the Hebrew word chasid (חָסִיד), which denotes someone who is pious, devout, and loyal, especially in showing loving-kindness (hesed) to God and others. It implies a deep commitment to covenant faithfulness.
  • "Faithful" comes from the Hebrew emunim (אֱמוּנִים), meaning trustworthy, reliable, firm, or steadfast. It describes those who are dependable and uphold truth.
  • The verbs "ceaseth" (גָּמַר, gamar – to come to an end, fail, consume) and "fail" (דָּלַל, dalal – to be weak, languish, vanish) emphasize the alarming disappearance or dwindling of such virtuous individuals.

Related Scriptures

David's lament over the lack of righteous people is echoed in other biblical passages. The prophet Micah similarly laments, "The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men" (Micah 7:2). Despite such observations, the Bible consistently affirms God's own unwavering faithfulness, as seen in Psalm 36:5, and His commitment to preserve His saints, as promised in Psalm 37:28.

Practical Application

Psalm 12:1 provides a powerful reminder for believers today. When faced with a world seemingly devoid of integrity and truth, our first response should be to turn to God in prayer, just as David did. This verse also serves as a call to action: in a world where godly and faithful people seem to be diminishing, we are challenged to embody those very qualities. By living with integrity and steadfastness, we become beacons of God's truth, offering hope and a testimony to His enduring presence in a morally challenging age.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 5:1

    ¶ Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be [any] that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

  • Isaiah 57:1

    ¶ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].

  • Matthew 24:12

    And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

  • Isaiah 59:13

    In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

  • Isaiah 59:15

    Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment.

  • Isaiah 1:21

    ¶ How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

  • Isaiah 1:22

    Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

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