Scripture of the Day

Psalms 11–12 (Listen)

The Lord Is in His Holy Temple

To the choirmaster. Of David.

11:1   In the LORD I take refuge;
  how can you say to my soul,
    Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2   for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
    they have fitted their arrow to the string
    to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3   if the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?¹
4   The LORD is in his holy temple;
    the LORD’s throne is in heaven;
    his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
5   The LORD tests the righteous,
    but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.
6   Let him rain coals on the wicked;
    fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7   For the LORD is righteous;
  he loves righteous deeds;
    the upright shall behold his face.

The Faithful Have Vanished

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith.² A Psalm of David.

12:1   Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone;
    for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
2   Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
    with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3   May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
    the tongue that makes great boasts,
4   those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
    our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
5   “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
    I will now arise,” says the LORD;
    “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
6   The words of the LORD are pure words,
    like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
    purified seven times.
7   You, O LORD, will keep them;
    you will guard us³ from this generation forever.
8   On every side the wicked prowl,
    as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

(ESV)