King James Version

Psalms 12:1

Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Study

Hebrew

Tap a word to see its meaning. Words run left to right in English reading order.

In the Hebrew text this line is Psalms 12:2. The heading is Hebrew Psalms 12:1.

Heading in the Hebrew text

לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַlamnatsechato excelנָצַחpreposition, with the article, verb, piel, participle, absolute — “to excel”, a verb used as a describing wordH5329properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanentexcel, chief musician (singer), oversee(-r), set forward.עַֽלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…הַשְּׁמִינִ֗יתhashminitthe Sheminithשְׁמִינִיתdefinite article, adjective, ordinal, both genders, singular, absolute — “the Sheminith”, the ordinary formH8067probably an eight-stringed lyreSheminith.מִזְמ֥וֹרmizmorpsalmמִזְמוֹרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “psalm”, the ordinary formH4210properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notespsalm.לְדָוִֽדledavidto Davidדָּוִדpreposition, noun, proper name — “to David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.

הוֹשִׁ֣יעָהhoshiahbe safeיָשַׁעverb, hiphil, imperative, 2nd person, masculine, singular, paragogic he — “be safe”, a commandH3467properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor[idiom] at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory.יְ֭הוָהyehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).כִּיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…גָמַ֣רgamarceaseגָּמַרverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “cease”, a completed actionH1584to end (in the sense of completion or failure)cease, come to an end, fail, perfect, perform.חָסִ֑ידchasidsaintחָסִידadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “saint”, the ordinary formH2623properly, kind, i.e. (religiously) pious (a saint)godly (man), good, holy (one), merciful, saint, (un-) godly.כִּיkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…פַ֥סּוּfasvceaseפָּסַסverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “cease”, a completed actionH6461probably to disperse, i.e. (intransitive) disappearcease.אֱ֝מוּנִ֗יםemunimbelieveאָמַןadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “believe”, the ordinary formH539properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain;hence, assurance, believe, bring up, establish, [phrase] fail, be faithful (of long continuance, stedfast, sure, surely, trusty, verified), nurse, (-ing father), (put), trust, turn to the right.מִבְּנֵ֥יmibnefrom sonבֵּןpreposition, noun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “from son”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)[phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, […אָדָֽםadampersonאָדָםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “person”, the ordinary formH120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)[idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(12-1) For the Leader; on the Sheminith. A Psalm of David. (12-2) Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Help, Jehovah; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Young’s Literal Translation

To the Overseer, on the octave. — A Psalm of David. Save, Jehovah, for the saintly hath failed, For the stedfast have ceased From the sons of men:

World English Bible

Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Darby Translation

Save, Jehovah, for the godly man is gone; for the faithful have failed from among the children of men.

Douay-Rheims

Unto the end, a psalm for David. How long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me unto the end? how long dost thou turn away thy face from me?

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(12-1) For the Leader; on the Sheminith. A Psalm of David. (12-2) Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Save me, O Lord; for the godly man has failed; for truth is diminished from among the children of men.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Σῶσον με Κύριε, ὅτι ἐκλέλοιπεν ὅσιος, ὅτι ὠλιγώθησαν αἱ ἀλήθειαι ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν τῶν ἀνθρώπων.