Modern versions of the Bible v the KJV Did God promise to preserve his words or the Needy?
Psalm 12-5For 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.6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. KJV
The KJV says that God’s words are pure and he will keep THEM and preserve THEM for ever. What are the them he has promised to preserve, in the KJV it is his WORDS, but if we look at the NIV
5“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like goldc refined seven times.
7You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
NIV
The lord will protect the needy and keep us safe forever
The ESV has God Keeping his words while guarding US forever.
5“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD;
“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
6The words of the LORD are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7You, O LORD, will keep them;
you will guard usb from this generation forever.
The NASV Has God Keeping his words and preserving him (whoever he is) forever
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.”
6The words of the LORD are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
7You, O LORD, will keep them;
You will preserve him from this generation forever.
So what is the correct translation , We are going to need to go to the Hebrew on this one…
The Hebrew word translated in verse 5 as needy is אֶבְי֫וֹנִ֥ים ’eḇ-yō-w-nîm from the word ebyon strongs word 34 -in want, needy, poor
This word is translated in Job as Needy by the NIV in Job 24-4
Job 24-4 They thrust the needy from the path and force all the poor of the land into hiding. NIV
The ESV uses poor
Job 24-4 They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.
And the NASV has poor also
Job 24-4 “They push the needy aside from the road; The poor of the land are made to hide themselves altogether.
If we look again at verse 5 on its own where the needy is being referenced
5For 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 KJV
5“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.” NIV
5“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD;
“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” ESV
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.” NASV
God clearly promises to look after the needy in this verse and all versions agree.
If we now look at verse 6
Verse 6 clearly states that the words of the lord are pure words , the Hebrew for word for word used is אּמְרַת imrah (imraw) strongs 565 which appears twice in this verse.
And if we look at verse 7
The Hebrew reads attah , Yah-weh, tiš-mə-rêm;, tiṣ-ṣə-ren-nū , min ,had-dō-wr , zu , lə-‘ō-w-lām.
The word ebyon does not appear at all, so we are certainly not talking about the needy. In this verse
Verse 7 is clearly a continuation of verse 6 where Gods word is being referenced.
God has already promised to look after the needy in verse 5
It is God’s words that God is saying that he will keep and preserve forever. As correctly translated by the KJV. The KJV is always yet again correct and the new versions again found to at fault.