The wicked prowl on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.
Parallel translations
- WEB The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
- KJV The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
- BSB The wicked wander freely, and vileness is exalted among men.
- NASB The wicked strut about on every side When vileness is exalted among the sons of mankind.
- NLT even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The wicked roam freely when vileness is exalted among people. Evil flourishes wherever it is honored rather than restrained.
Overview
The psalm closes on a sober note: where society prizes what is base, the wicked move about unchecked. This realism about a fallen world frames the preceding confidence in God's word and protection. It leaves the faithful trusting God's promise rather than the moral state of their culture, awaiting His final justice.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Mark 14:63–65The high priest tore his clothes, and said, “What further need have we of witnesses?
- Ps 55:10–11Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her.
- Prov 29:12If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked.
- Hos 5:11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; Because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.
- Judg 9:18–57and you have risen up against my father’s house today, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
- Isa 32:4–6The heart of the rash will understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.
- Mic 6:16For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of Ahab’s house. You walk in their counsels, that I may make you a ruin, and her inhabitants a hissing; And you will bear the reproach of my people.”
- Job 30:8They are children of fools, yes, children of base men. They were flogged out of the land.
- Esth 3:6–15But he scorned the thought of laying hands on Mordecai alone, for they had made known to him Mordecai’s people. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even Mordecai’s people.
- Dan 11:21In his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
- 1 Sam 18:17–18Saul said to David, “Behold, my elder daughter Merab, I will give her to you as wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight Yahweh’s battles.” For Saul said, “Don’t let my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 12:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.