Psalms 12

Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel

Psalms 12

1(13) For the end, a Psalm of David. How long, O Lord, will you forget me? for ever? how long will you turn away your face from me?Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ψαλμὸς τῷ Δαυίδ. Ἕως πότε Κύριε ἐπιλήσῃ μου, εἰς τέλος; ἕως πότε ἀποστρέψεις τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ;

2How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrows in my heart daily? how long shall my enemy be exalted over me?Ἕως τίνος θήσομαι βουλὰς ἐν ψυχῇ μου, ὀδύνας ἐν καρδίᾳ μου ἡμέρας; ἕως πότε ὑψωθήσεται ὁ ἐχθρός μου ἐπʼ ἐμέ;

3Look on me, listen to me, O Lord my God: lighten my eyes, lest I sleep in death;Ἐπίβλεψον, εἰσάκουσόν μου, Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου· φώτισον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, μή ποτε ὑπνώσω εἰς θάνατον·

4lest at any time my enemy say, I have prevailed against him: my persecutors will exult if ever I should be moved.μή ποτε εἴποι ὁ ἐχθρός μου, ἴσχυσα πρὸς αὐτόν· οἱ θλίβοντές με ἀγαλλιάσονται ἐὰν σαλευθῶ.

5But I have hoped in your mercy; my heart shall exult in your salvation.Ἐγὼ δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ ἐλέει σου ἤλπισα· ἀγαλλιάσεται ἡ καρδία μου ἐν τῷ σωτηρίῳ σου.

6I will sing to the Lord who has dealt bountifully with me, and I will sing psalms to the name of the Lord most high.Ἄσω τῷ Κυρίῳ τῷ εὐεργετήσαντί με, καὶ ψαλῶ τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου τοῦ ὑψίστου.

The Fathers on Psalms 12

Saint Augustine of Hippo comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.

On Psalms 12:1

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

1. “For Christ is the end of the law to every one that believeth.” “How long, O Lord, wilt Thou forget me unto the end?” (ver. 1) that is, put me off as to spiritually understanding Christ, who is the Wisdom of God, and the true end of all the aim of the soul. “How long dost Thou turn away Thy face from me?” As God doth not forget, so neither doth He turn His face away: but Scripture speaks after our manner. Now…

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On Psalms 12:2

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

2. “How long shall I place counsel in my soul?” (ver. 2). There is no need of counsel but in adversity. Therefore “How long shall I place counsel in my soul?” is as if it were said, How long shall I be in adversity? Or at least it is an answer, so that the meaning is this, So long, O Lord, wilt Thou forget me to the end, and so long turn away Thy face from me, until I shall place counsel in mine own soul: so that…

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On Psalms 12:3

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

4. “Look on me, and hear me, O Lord my God” (ver. 3). “Look on me,” refers to what was said, “How long” dost “Thou turn away Thy face from me.” “Hear,” refers to what was said, “How long wilt Thou forget me to the end? Lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death.” The eyes of the heart must be understood, that they be not closed by the pleasurable eclipse of sin.

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On Psalms 12:4

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

5. “Lest at any time mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him” (ver. 4). The devil’s mockery is to be feared. “They that trouble me will exult, if I be moved;” the devil and his angels; who exulted not over that righteous man, Job, when they troubled him; because he was not moved, that is, did not draw back from the stedfastness of his faith.

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On Psalms 12:5–6

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers · Fourth–fifth century · Expositions on the Psalms

6. “But I have hoped in Thy mercy” (ver. 5). Because this very thing, that a man be not moved, and that he abide fixed in the Lord, he should not attribute to self: lest when he glories that he hath not been moved, he be moved by this very pride. “My heart shall exult in Thy salvation;” in Christ, in the Wisdom of God. “I will sing to the Lord who hath given me good things;” spiritual good things, not belonging…

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