Psalms 12:1 «To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. » Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. Ver. 1. _Help, Lord_] It was high time to call to heaven for help when Saul cried, Go, kill me up the priests of Jehovah (the occasion,... [ Continue Reading ]
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak. Ver. 2. _They speak vanity every one with his neighbour_] They speak falsely and fraudulently, and therein have an art, as Jeremiah 9:4,5, such as the devil hath taught them. _ With flat... [ Continue Reading ]
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, [and] the tongue that speaketh proud things: Ver. 3. _The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips_] As a rotten member is cut off from the body - _Ne pars sincera trahatur,_ or as a barren tree is stocked up, that it cumber not the ground. There is a wonde... [ Continue Reading ]
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us? Ver. 4. _Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail_] _Dictitant enim,_ this was a common word with them. And surely the tongue is a desperate weapon, made in the form of a flaming sword, and elsewher... [ Continue Reading ]
For 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. Ver. 5. _For the oppression of the poor_] Whose very oppression, though they complain not, hath a voice, and God will hear it, for he is graciou... [ Continue Reading ]
The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Ver. 6. _The words of the Lord are pure words_] Free from all insincerity or falsehood; and not like those of Saul's flatterers, vile and vicious. All God's promises are infallible, and such as a... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Ver. 7. _Thou shall keep them_] That is, _Verba praedicta,_ the forementioned words or promises, saith Aben Ezra. Or, keep thou them (prayerwise), and so David puts God's promises in suit. A certain good man havin... [ Continue Reading ]
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. Ver. 8. _The wicked walk on every side_] _In circuitu,_ saith the Vulgate; the circular motion is most subtle, the devil walketh the rounds to do mischief; but better render it _circumquaque,_ on every side, to show their numbers and t... [ Continue Reading ]