Psalm 12:8
New International Version
who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race.

New Living Translation
even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.

English Standard Version
On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

Berean Standard Bible
The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.

King James Bible
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

New King James Version
The wicked prowl on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

New American Standard Bible
The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of mankind.

NASB 1995
The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

NASB 1977
The wicked strut about on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Legacy Standard Bible
The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Amplified Bible
The wicked strut about [in pompous self-importance] on every side, As vileness is exalted and baseness is prized among the sons of men.

Christian Standard Bible
The wicked prowl all around, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The wicked wander everywhere, and what is worthless is exalted by the human race.

American Standard Version
The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Contemporary English Version
But all who are wicked will keep on strutting, while everyone praises their shameless deeds.

English Revised Version
The wicked walk on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Wicked people parade around when immorality increases among Adam's descendants.

International Standard Version
The wicked, however, keep walking around, exalting the vileness of human beings.

Majority Standard Bible
The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.

NET Bible
for the wicked seem to be everywhere, when people promote evil.

New Heart English Bible
The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the descendants of Adam.

Webster's Bible Translation
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

World English Bible
The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The wicked walk around continually, "" According as vileness is exalted by sons of men!

Young's Literal Translation
Around the wicked walk continually, According as vileness is exalted by sons of men!

Smith's Literal Translation
The unjust shall walk round about as the rising of a tempest to the sons of man.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The wicked walk round about: according to thy highness, thou best multiplied the children of men.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The impious wander aimlessly. According to your loftiness, you have multiplied the sons of men.

New American Bible
On every side the wicked roam; the shameless are extolled by the children of men.

New Revised Standard Version
On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among humankind.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For the wicked walk everywhere with contemptible pride like the children of Edom.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The wicked go around and walk according to the contemptible pride of the sons of Edom.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The ungodly walk around: according to thy greatness thou has greatly exalted the sons of men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Godly are No More
7You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation. 8The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.

Cross References
Proverbs 29:2
When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Isaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.

Micah 7:3-4
Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together. / The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns. The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation. Now is the time of their confusion.

Jeremiah 5:26-28
For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men. / Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich. / They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.

Habakkuk 1:4
Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

Proverbs 28:12
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

Isaiah 59:14-15
So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. / Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

Job 24:2-4
Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks. / They drive away the donkey of the fatherless and take the widow’s ox in pledge. / They push the needy off the road and force all the poor of the land into hiding.

Amos 5:12-13
For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate. / Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil.

Proverbs 28:28
When the wicked come to power, people hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous flourish.

Matthew 24:12
Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ...

Romans 1:28-32
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. / They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, / slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent new forms of evil; they disobey their parents. ...

2 Peter 2:18-19
With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error. / They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

1 John 5:19
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.


Treasury of Scripture

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

wicked

Proverbs 29:12
If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.

Hosea 5:11
Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

Micah 6:16
For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

when

Judges 9:18
And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

1 Samuel 18:17,18
And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him…

Esther 3:6
And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

men.

Job 30:8
They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

Daniel 11:21
And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

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Chief Continually David Evil Exalted Freely Honored Honoured Musician Prowl Psalm Side Sinners Vile Vileness Vilest Walk Walking Wicked
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Chief Continually David Evil Exalted Freely Honored Honoured Musician Prowl Psalm Side Sinners Vile Vileness Vilest Walk Walking Wicked
Psalm 12
1. David, destitute of human comfort, craves help of God
3. He comforts himself with God's promises, and his judgments on the wicked














The wicked wander freely
The phrase "the wicked" refers to those who live in opposition to God's righteous standards. In Hebrew, the word for "wicked" is "רְשָׁעִים" (resha'im), which conveys a sense of guilt and moral corruption. Historically, the wicked have often been those who reject God's law and pursue their own desires. The term "wander freely" suggests a lack of restraint or accountability. In ancient times, this could be likened to a city without walls, where enemies could come and go as they pleased. Spiritually, it reflects a society where moral boundaries are ignored, and sin is allowed to flourish unchecked. This phrase challenges believers to consider the importance of upholding God's standards in their communities and to be vigilant against the encroachment of evil.

and vileness is exalted
"Vileness" in Hebrew is "זֻלּוּת" (zulut), which implies something contemptible or worthless. The exaltation of vileness indicates a reversal of moral values, where what is base and dishonorable is celebrated. This can be seen throughout history when societies have turned away from God, elevating behaviors and attitudes that are contrary to His will. The word "exalted" suggests that such vileness is not only tolerated but is lifted up and admired. This serves as a warning to believers about the dangers of cultural influences that glorify sin and degrade righteousness. It calls Christians to be discerning and to uphold the truth of God's Word, even when it is countercultural.

among men
The phrase "among men" indicates that this condition of moral decay is widespread and pervasive. It is not limited to a few individuals but is a societal issue. In the biblical context, "men" often refers to humanity in general, highlighting the universal nature of sin. This phrase underscores the impact of collective human behavior and the responsibility of each person to contribute to the moral fabric of society. For believers, it is a reminder of the call to be salt and light in the world, influencing others for good and standing firm in the faith amidst a culture that may be hostile to God's truth.

(8) The wicked.--Gesenius translates this verse, "The wicked walk on every side like the rising of a tempest upon the sons of men." There seems no reason to question his rendering of the word zull-th (Authorised Version, "vilest"), which is peculiar to this passage; but by comparison with Psalm 39:6; Psalm 58:7, we may render the first clause, the wicked vanish on every side; and a slight change gives for the second clause, at the rising of a tempest on the sons of men.

Verse 8. - The wicked walk on every side. This can scarcely have been intended as an independent clause, though grammatically it stands alone. It is best to supply "while" or "though" before "the wicked," as Dr. Kay does, and to translate, Though (or, while) wicked men march to and fro on all sides; i.e. while they have their way, and control all other men's incomings and out-goings, being free themselves. When the vilest men are exalted; rather, and though villainy (זֻלּות) exalteth itself among the sons of men.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The wicked
רְשָׁעִ֥ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7563: Wrong, an, bad person

wander
יִתְהַלָּכ֑וּן (yiṯ·hal·lā·ḵūn)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

freely,
סָבִ֗יב (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

and vileness
זֻ֝לּ֗וּת (zul·lūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2149: A shaking, a tempest

is exalted
כְּרֻ֥ם (kə·rum)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7311: To be high actively, to rise, raise

among
לִבְנֵ֥י (liḇ·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

men.
אָדָֽם׃ (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being


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OT Poetry: Psalm 12:8 The wicked walk on every side when (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 12:7
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