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Psalm 12 in Hebrew and English

9 verses, about 1 minute to read aloud. The Hebrew has its vowel points and the English stands under each verse.

The text of the psalm

לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל־הַשְּׁמִינִית מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִֽד׃

For the Leader; on the Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

הוֹשִׁיעָה יְהוָה כִּי־גָמַר חָסִיד כִּי־פַסּוּ אֱמוּנִים מִבְּנֵי אָדָֽם׃

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

שָׁוְא יְדַבְּרוּ אִישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ שְׂפַת חֲלָקוֹת בְּלֵב וָלֵב יְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour; With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

יַכְרֵת יְהוָה כָּל־שִׂפְתֵי חֲלָקוֹת לָשׁוֹן מְדַבֶּרֶת גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh proud things!

אֲשֶׁר אָמְרוּ לִלְשֹׁנֵנוּ נַגְבִּיר שְׂפָתֵינוּ אִתָּנוּ מִי אָדוֹן לָֽנוּ׃

Who have said: 'Our tongue will we make mighty; Our lips are with us: who is lord over us?'

מִשֹּׁד עֲנִיִּים מֵאַנְקַת אֶבְיוֹנִים עַתָּה אָקוּם יֹאמַר יְהוָה אָשִׁית בְּיֵשַׁע יָפִיחַ לֽוֹ׃

'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 at whom they puff.' .

אִמֲרוֹת יְהוָה אֲמָרוֹת טְהֹרוֹת כֶּסֶף צָרוּף בַּעֲלִיל לָאָרֶץ מְזֻקָּק שִׁבְעָתָֽיִם׃

The words of the LORD are pure words, As silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times.

אַתָּה־יְהוָה תִּשְׁמְרֵם תִּצְּרֶנּוּ מִן־הַדּוֹר זוּ לְעוֹלָֽם׃

Thou wilt keep them, O LORD; Thou wilt preserve us from this generation for ever.

סָבִיב רְשָׁעִים יִתְהַלָּכוּן כְּרֻם זֻלּוּת לִבְנֵי אָדָֽם׃

The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

The Hebrew is the Leningrad Codex, compared with a second edition letter by letter. The English is the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917, in the public domain.

Where this psalm is read

  • The first of the five books of Psalms
  • Read in the monthly cycle on day 2 of the Hebrew month
  • Read in the weekly cycle on Sunday
  • Its heading names David
  • 9 verses, 79 words, about 1 minute to read

Psalms that are read with this one

All 150 psalms and today's reading·Prayers by the time they are said

Questions about this psalm

How many verses does Psalm 12 have?

Psalm 12 has 9 verses and 79 words.

On which day is Psalm 12 read in the monthly and weekly cycles?

In the monthly cycle it is read on day 2 of the Hebrew month, and in the weekly cycle on Sunday.

Whose name is in the heading of Psalm 12?

The heading names David.

How long does it take to read Psalm 12?

About 1 minute, at a steady pace.