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Psalm 12:3
May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,
1For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,
4who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”
5“Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”
Notice
“Cut off” is a severe plea for God's judgment on flattering and boastful speech in a community where lies harm neighbors and the weak suffer.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What troubles you, if anything, about David asking God to “cut off” flattering lips?
Write on thisWhere have you seen flattering words and boasts serve the same harmful purpose?
Write on thisWhat difference does it make that David addresses this plea for judgment to YHWH?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.Both passages treat the tongue as consequential: the psalm seeks judgment on harmful speech, while Proverbs names its power for death and life.
Daniel 7:8“I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; …The boasting tongue in the psalm and the horn's arrogant mouth in Daniel share the same mark of pride expressed through speech.
Revelation 13:5A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him.Both passages feature boastful speech, with Revelation also naming blasphemy and authority to make war.
Psalm 17:10They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.Both psalms describe pride expressed through the mouth; Psalm 17 also names the speakers' callous hearts.
Psalm 31:18Let the lying lips be mute, which speak against the righteous insolently, with pride and contempt.Both prayers ask for harmful lips to be silenced, naming speech marked by falsehood and pride.
Psalm 94:23He has brought on them their own iniquity, and will cut them off in their own wickedness. The LORD, our God, will cut them off.Both passages speak of the LORD cutting off evildoers; Psalm 12 petitions for judgment, while Psalm 94 declares it.
Jeremiah 23:36You will mention the message from the LORD no more, for every man’s own word has become his message; for you have perverted the words of the living God, of the …Both passages confront corrupt speech before the LORD; Jeremiah names the added offense of perverting God's words.
2 Kings 19:23–24By your messengers, you have defied the Lord, and have said, “With the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the …The psalm's surrounding verses and the boast about chariots both portray speakers claiming power in defiance of the Lord.
Malachi 3:13“Your words have been harsh against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against you?’Both passages concern speech that challenges the LORD, though Malachi focuses on people denying that their words oppose him.
1 Samuel 2:3“Don’t keep talking so exceedingly proudly. Don’t let arrogance come out of your mouth, for the LORD is a God of knowledge. By him actions are weighed.Both passages oppose arrogant speech under God's authority; Samuel's warning names the LORD as the one who knows and weighs actions.
Ezekiel 29:3Speak and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lies in the middle of his rivers, that has said, …Pharaoh's claim to own his river echoes the surrounding psalm's claim to own their lips, each spoken against God's authority.
Daniel 7:25He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given …Both passages connect defiant speech with oppression: Psalm 12 names the needy, while Daniel names the saints of the Most High.
Where this verse fits
Injustice and anger. work conflict. church hurt.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
David asks God to judge destructive speakers. The surrounding verses name the suffering of the weak; their oppressors' boast of unchecked power remains subject to YHWH.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).