Bible Strands
Psalms 12:1
For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David issues a plea to the Lord on behalf of the disappearing godly and faithful. The text notes the piece is assigned to the choirmaster with Sheminith musical directions.
The words — הוֹשִׁיעָה (ho.shi'a.h) commands "save!" and יְהוָה (Yah.weh) addresses "O Yahweh." כִּי (ki) introduces the cause, followed by גָמַר (ga.mar) meaning "has come to an end" for חָסִיד (cha.sid, the faithful) and פַּסּוּ (pa.su), which means "they have vanished."
The thread — The text's observation of disappearing faithfulness parallels Isaiah 57:1, where the righteous perish unnoticed, and Jeremiah 5:1, which commands searching for a single upright person. It aligns with Matthew 24:12, where increased wickedness causes love to grow cold.
Why it lands — The verse states that moral collapse leaves communities without reliable witnesses, requiring direct appeal to God. Readers must acknowledge that institutional or social faithfulness can disappear, making divine intervention the only recourse.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one considers that the righteous are taken away from the presence of evil.
- Jeremiah 5:1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.
- Matthew 24:12 Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.
- Isaiah 59:13 rebelling and denying the LORD, turning away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering lies from the heart.
- Isaiah 1:21 See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!
- Psalms 6:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.
- Isaiah 63:5 I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled that no one assisted. So My arm brought Me salvation, and My own wrath upheld Me.
- Genesis 6:12 And God looked upon the earth and saw that it was corrupt; for all living creatures on the earth had corrupted their ways.
- Proverbs 20:6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
- Micah 7:1 Woe is me! For I am like one gathering summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster to eat, no early fig that I crave.