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There are several Psalms that describe and address those with insolent pride (aka narcissists – see here). Psalm 12 is one of those Psalms. It describes them strutting about with the insolently prideful attitude that no one can tell them what to do (“who is lord over us”). They flatter and speak lies , believing that they can get what they want through manipulating people and situations by what they say (“with our tongue we will prevail”). Classic narcissistic approach.
But it also invites the Lord to cut them off, and describes how, ultimately, God will protect His people from these evil people.
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12 Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be,
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
2 They speak falsehood to one another;
With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;
4 Who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”
5 “Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,
Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he longs.”
6 The words of the Lord are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
7 You, O Lord, will keep them;
You will preserve him from this generation forever.
8 The wicked strut about on every side
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.Psalm 12
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* Narcissism is the modern colloquial term for what the Bible describes as “insolent pride” (see here)