The Psalm Project - Psalm 12 (The Words of the Lord) Lyrics
Lyrics
Help! Help, Lord
For the godly cease to be
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men
Everybody speaks idle words with smooth-talking, flattering lips and a double heart
May the Lord cut off all truth-perverting, flattering lips and the tongue that speaks with pride
The tongue that speaks with pride
For this is what they say...
"With the words we speak we'll conquer
With our tongue and our lips, the weapons of our choice
There's no God over us"
It's a war of words
And our enemies think they will win
"For the oppression of the poor, now I will arise," says the Lord
"For the groaning of the needy, now I will arise, says the Lord
"I will give my salvation to whosoever yearns for it in his heart"
The words of the Lord are pure words
Not the lying wicked words of men
The words of the Lord are pure words
Purified pure as silver that's purified seven times
You will keep them, You'll preserve them for all time
Now and forever
The wicked prowl on every side when evil is exalted among the sons of men
Video
Psalm 12 (The Words of the Lord) by The Psalms Project [feat. Nick Engbers] - Official Lyric Video
Meaning & Inspiration
The Psalms Project’s rendition of Psalm 12, titled "The Words of the Lord," released on October 22, 2024, with featured artist Nick Engbers, is a powerful musical interpretation that dives deep into the timeless struggle between truth and deception. This track isn't just a song; it's a spiritual cry and a comforting assurance, directly drawing from the ancient wisdom of Psalm 12. The song opens with a lament, mirroring the Psalmist's distress over the apparent scarcity of righteousness and faithfulness in the world. It paints a stark picture of a society where smooth, flattering words and double-dealing are commonplace, a reality that resonates profoundly even today. The lyrics articulate a prayer for divine intervention against those who twist truth with prideful tongues, a sentiment echoed throughout Scripture where the dangers of a deceitful tongue are often highlighted, as seen in Proverbs 12:18, which speaks of reckless words that pierce like swords, and Romans 3:13, describing the human tongue as a deadly weapon. The song then pivots to the defiant boastings of those who believe their words are their ultimate weapon, proclaiming their independence from any higher power. This defiant self-sufficiency, the utter dismissal of divine authority, is a theme revisited across biblical narratives, from the tower of Babel to more contemporary instances of hubris.
However, the true heart of "The Words of the Lord" lies in its powerful affirmation of God’s response. The Lord declares His intention to rise up for the oppressed and the needy, a promise woven throughout the Old Testament, particularly in verses like Isaiah 25:4, which states, "For you have been a stronghold for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in his distress." This divine commitment to justice for the vulnerable is the bedrock of the song’s hopeful message. The track then moves to the core of its title and its scriptural inspiration: the incomparable purity of God’s words. The lyrics emphasize that God's pronouncements are not like the deceitful utterances of men but are refined and trustworthy, "purified seven times in the fire," a vivid imagery that directly evokes the refining process described in Psalm 18:30 and Proverbs 17:3, where silver and gold are tested. This purity serves as an anchor, a solid truth in a world of shifting falsehoods. The assurance that God's words are preserved for all time, "now and forever," offers immense comfort, underscoring the eternal and unchanging nature of divine truth. The song concludes by reiterating the pervasive presence of wickedness when evil is celebrated, a somber acknowledgment of the ongoing spiritual battle, yet the underlying message is one of unwavering hope in the uncorrupted power and protective presence of God's promises, reminding us that even in the darkest times, His words endure and His justice will prevail, a promise found in Revelation 21:5, where God declares, "Behold, I am making all things new."