what does PSALMS 12 & 17 mean?

Question

can u please tell me in plain english, what these verses mean? someone told me that i needed to read them, but i dont understand what its tellin me.

gracias!

Answer 1

"Help, Yahweh; for the righteous man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men."

This refers to the world after the Word was taken out of it, after Truth was removed and after the Light was gone.

"They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak."

With the Truth removed from the world, every belief and teaching is falsehood, error, and lies.

"Yahweh will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things; Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: who is master over us?"

This refers to those who believe they are capable of discerning Truth for themselves, using their own very limited and feeble mental capacities.

"Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Yahweh; I will set him in the safety he panteth for."

The poor are those without Truth, the needy are those without help from the Spirit of God to walk in His ways. God promises to set the poor and needy in the safety of the path for which he yearns.

"The words of Yahweh are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times. Thou wilt keep them, O Yahweh, Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever."

This verse refers to the fact that the Word of God in its written form in the world is purified and kept from corruption.

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

This refers to the spirit of this world, the wicked one who rules the world. His ways are exalted among men.

"Hear the right, O Yahweh, attend unto my cry; Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; Let thine eyes look upon equity. Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress."

This is the prayer of one who yearns for only truth and goodness and maintains that God does not find in him any desire for falsehood or evil.

"As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent."

By his faith in the Word of God, he has kept himself from the ways of the spirit of the world.

"My steps have held fast to thy paths, My feet have not slipped. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O El: Incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech."

Here he exclaims that calling upon the Divine Name of God keeps him on the true path and keeps his feet from slipping from it. He beseeches God to listen to his speech as he calls upon the Name.

"Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them that take refuge in thee From those that rise up against them. Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that oppress me, My deadly enemies, that compass me about."

Here the psalmist gives credit where credit is due. He's saying that God is saving him from the wiles of the spirit of this world (and his servants), which are the oppressors and deadly enemies.

"They are inclosed in their own fat: With their mouth they speak proudly."

The spirit of the world convinces men of the world to boast of their own prowess and their own opinions and intelligence.

"They have now compassed us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth."

The influence of the world's ruler is everywhere and their purpose is to keep men's eyes focused on this world, the world 'beneath' so that they won't very often contemplate the world 'above.'

"He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places."

Again, the psalmist is referring to the ruler of the world who hunts continually for prey.

"Arise, O Yahweh, Confront him, cast him down: Deliver my soul from the wicked by thy sword; From men by thy hand, O Yahweh, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly thou fillest with thy treasure: They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their substance to their babes."

Here the psalmist is asking God to cast down the world's spirit and he desires to be delivered from the influence of worldly men who have no understanding of the Truth, men who follow in the footsteps of Esau, preferring the food that's available to their bellies now above the promises, showing by their preference what little value they place upon the promises of the Father. Their reward is the material things they have in this world.

"As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with beholding thy form."

Here he is telling God that he will be satisfied to give up everything in the world in order to receive the promise of Life in the World of the Living (his original home).

Answer 2

Psalm 12 seems to mean that there are many evil people who are two-faced, and the psalmist hopes that the Lord will bring justice to those who have to live with and/or deal with people like this.
In Psalm 17, the psalmist is reminding the Lord that he (the writer) has walked the straight and narrow and now needs help and protection from those who would harm him.

Answer 3

It seems to me that the person is trying to tell you that you are a gossip or speak in a mean way about others and it is sinful (Psalm 12).

The person wants you to pray for forgiveness for the bad things you are saying about others (Psalm 17).

Answer 4

The psalm is written by David who loved the Lord with all his heart, but also, like us, allowed the pride of his eyes to allow him to sin against God by lusting after a female who was bathing and he wanted her. In an effort to 'get the girl', he sent her husband out to battle after he refused to 'come home' and make love to his wife - who was, pregnant by David. David realizes that there are people mentioned who are afflicted and their pride and deceit affect the innocent around them in many ways.
He is speaking about the deceitful tongue and prideful speech seem to have so much of an effect that those who really do believe start to question. David in this passage is asking and longing for God to do something about these folks. He wants protection and tells David that he will set him in the protection that he longs for. He speaks of 'flattering lips' and "double heart of evil men. Finally, David declares that the opposite of the flattering words and deeds of the evil man is the purety and goodness of God. That's where the protection he seeks lies.
.
Psalm 17 is David's prayer and song to the Lord asking for his continued protection from all that is evil.

Answer 5

This website takes you to www.crossdaily.com ... I've taken you to Psalm 12. The version is the World English Bible, and it sometimes makes the passages more clear.

http://www.crossdaily.com/bible/lookup.php3?bk=19&ch=12&ver=web

Just scroll down the page to choose Chapter 17 to see that one.

Answer 6

chapter 12 is talking about speaking without thinking or gossiping or backstabbing. Chapter 17 is a prayer of David. At that time David asking for God's protection most likely from Saul. He is telling God that because there is no unconfessed sin in his life he wants God to be his protector

Answer 7

really would need some context to know whats going on with that .... but they are prayers .... one is about the world being full of ungodly people and how they harass and are proud against Gods people .... the other is basically a protection prayer from the same

Answer 8

It means the someone who told you to read them doesn't have enough patience to speak to you as a real person, so they are using bible verse to appear knowledgeable.

Answer 9

feels like the R&S Atheist are attending to you. i will toss you a clue sis. in case you ought to do something approximately it then you definately does not be utilized by ability of GOD to do it. GOD gets the honor. yet thank you on your faithfulness in staying here and answering some questions.

Answer 10

Sorry, I am too tired to go in the room and get my bible. (had along day at work)

Write the verses for us.

Answer 11

12 is crying over people's loss of faith and how badly people act towards each other, and saying that god will get them in the end.

17 is saying that he's done everything god has asked, he's been faithful, so please watch over and help him by killing his enemies