Psalm 12: When Truth Is Hard to Find

THE POET’S PRAYER • PSALM 12

When Truth Is Hard to Find

By Minister Denise N. Fyffe

Psalm 12 describes a world where flattering lips, double hearts and deceptive words make truth difficult to recognize. That struggle feels very familiar in an age of noise, manipulation and competing voices.

Read Psalm 12

King James Version (KJV) — full chapter

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

2. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

3. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:

4. Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

5. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

6. The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

8. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

“The words of the LORD are pure words.” — Psalm 12:6 (NKJV)

God’s Word Gives Us a Standard

When people change their story, exaggerate, flatter or speak from hidden motives, believers need a standard that is not moving with the culture. Scripture gives us that standard.

The answer is not to become suspicious of everyone. It is to grow in discernment and to measure what we hear against truth, character and the Word of God.

A Prayer from Psalm 12

Lord, guard me from deception and from becoming deceptive myself. Purify my words. Give me discernment when motives are unclear and wisdom when voices around me compete for my attention.

Teach me to love truth even when truth is inconvenient. Let Your Word remain the standard that shapes my thinking, speech and decisions.

Be encouraged.