Mazmur 12:6

12:6 The Lord’s words are absolutely reliable. ¹ 

They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground,

where it is thoroughly refined. ² 

Mazmur 12:1

Psalm 12 ³ 

For the music director; according to the sheminith style; ⁴  a psalm of David.

12:1 Deliver, Lord!

For the godly ⁵  have disappeared; ⁶ 

people of integrity ⁷  have vanished. ⁸ 

1 Timotius 6:17

6:17 Command those who are rich in this world’s goods ⁹  not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, ¹⁰  but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.

[12:6]  ¹ tn Heb “the words of the Lord are pure words,” i.e., untainted by falsehood or deception (in contrast to the flattery of the evildoers, v. 2).

[12:6]  ² tn Heb “[like] silver purified in a furnace of [i.e., “on”] the ground, refined seven times.” The singular participle מְזֻקָּק (mÿzuqqaq, “refined”) modifies “silver.” The number seven is used rhetorically to express the thorough nature of the action. For other rhetorical/figurative uses of שִׁבְעָתָיִם (shiv’atayim, “seven times”), see Gen 4:15, 24; Ps 79:12; Prov 6:31; Isa 30:26.

[12:1]  ³ sn Psalm 12. The psalmist asks the Lord to intervene, for society is overrun by deceitful, arrogant oppressors and godly individuals are a dying breed. When the Lord announces his intention to defend the oppressed, the psalmist affirms his confidence in the divine promise.

[12:1]  ⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew term שְׁמִינִית (shÿminit) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See 1 Chr 15:21.

[12:1]  ⁵ tn The singular form is collective or representative. Note the plural form “faithful [ones]” in the following line. A “godly [one]” (חָסִיד, khasid) is one who does what is right in God’s eyes and remains faithful to God (see Pss 4:3; 18:25; 31:23; 37:28; 86:2; 97:10).

[12:1]  ⁶ tn Or “have come to an end.”

[12:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “the faithful [ones] from the sons of man.”

[12:1]  ⁸ tn The Hebrew verb פָּסַס (pasas) occurs only here. An Akkadian cognate means “efface, blot out.”

[6:17]  ⁹ tn Grk “in the present age.”

[6:17]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “in uncertainty.”