Psalms 12 · Verse 4

Psalms 12:4

Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
Psalms 12:4, King James Version

Psalms 12:4 in other translations

BSBThey say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”
WEBwho have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?”
ASVWho have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
YLTWho said, ‘By our tongue we do mightily: Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?'
DARBYWho have said, With our tongue will we prevail, our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
BBEThey have said, With our tongues will we overcome; our lips are ours: who is lord over us?
WebsterWho have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

What does Psalms 12:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 12:3-4

3-4. Boasting (Da 7:25) is, like flattery, a species of lying. lips, and ... tongue--for persons.

Read the full comment on Psalms 12:3-4 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Our lips are our own - Many think, because they have the faculty of speaking, that therefore they may speak what they please. Old MS - The qwilk sayd, our toung we sal wyrchip, our lippes er of us, qwas our Lorde? Tha Ypocrites worchepes thair toung; for that hee tham self janglyng and settes in thaire pouste to do mykil thyng and grete: and thai rose tham that thair lippes that es thair facund and thair wyls er of tham self, nought of God, ne of haly menes lare; for thi that say qua es our Lord? that es, qwat es he to qwas rewle and conversacioun we sal be undir lout? and confourme us til? Als so to say, That es none.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Psalms 12:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherwhichH834
אָֽמְר֨וּ\׀'a.me.Ruthey sayH559
לִלְשֹׁנֵ֣נוּlil.sho.Ne.nu<to> tongues ourH3956
נַ֭גְבִּירNag.birwe will make strongH1396
שְׂפָתֵ֣ינוּse.fa.Tei.nulips ourH8193
אִתָּ֑נוּ'i.Ta.nu[are] with usH854
מִ֖יmiwho?H4310
אָד֣וֹן'a.Don[is] masterH113
לָֽנוּ\׃La.nuof us

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 12:4

  • James 3:5-6

    Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

  • Job 21:14-15

    Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:4

    Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

  • Exodus 5:2

    And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

  • Jeremiah 18:18

    Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

  • Daniel 3:15

    Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

  • Jeremiah 2:31

    O generation, see ye the word of the Lord. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?

  • Genesis 3:5

    For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
With.
Jer 18:18; Jas 3:5,6
our own. Heb. with us. who.
Ge 3:5; Ex 5:2; Job 21:14,15; Jer 2:31; Da 3:15; 2Th 2:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 12:3

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

  • Psalms 12:4

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

  • Psalms 12:5

    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.

Read all of Psalms 12

Psalms 12:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que dijeron: Por nuestra lengua prevaleceremos; nuestros labios están con nosotros: ¿quién nos es señor?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		L’ Éternel retranchera toutes les lèvres flatteuses, la langue qui parle de grandes choses,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die da sagen: Wir werden überlegen sein mit unserer Zunge, unsere Lippen sind mit uns; wer ist unser Herr?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Respice, et exaudi me, Domine Deus meus. Illumina oculos meos, ne umquam obdormiam in morte;