Psalms 12:8

The wicked walk on every side; which phrase may note,

1. Their great numbers; they fill all places.

2. Their freedom and safety; they are not restrained nor punished, but go about boldly and securely whither they please.

3. Their proficiency and success, which is sometimes signified by this verb, as Genesis 26:13 1 Samuel 2:21 Isaiah 40:31. They grow worse and worse, and prosper in and by their wickedness.

4. Their incessant and unwearied industry in doing mischief to good men. Compare 1 Peter 5:8. And this is very fitly here added, as another argument to prevail with God to arise to help his poor people who are oppressed by wicked men. The vilest men, Heb. vilenesses, i.e. all manner of wickedness, lying and slandering, profaneness; oppression, cruelty, and the like; or, vile persons, the abstract being put for the concrete, which is frequent, as pride, Psalms 36:11, for a proud man, and many such like; both comes to one, vile persons and vile practices were both advanced and encouraged through Saul's misgovernment, whereby all the foundations were destroyed, as he complained, Psalms 11:3. The Hebrew word zolel (whence this zuloth comes) signifies first a glutton or drunkard, as Deuteronomy 21:20 Proverbs 23:21, and thence any vile person, as Jeremiah 15:19 Lamentations 1:11.