PSALM XII _The psalmist, destitute of human comfort, craves help from God_, 1; _gives the character of those who surrounded him, and denounces_ _God's judgments against them_, 2-5; _confides in the promises of God, and in his protection of him_ _and all good men_, 6-8. NOTES ON PSALM XII Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 12:2. _THEY SPEAK VANITY EVERY ONE WITH HIS NEIGHBOUR_] They are false and hollow; they say one thing while they mean another; there is no trusting to what they say. _FLATTERING LIPS_, AND _WITH A DOUBLE HEART DO THEY SPEAK_] בלב ולב _beleb valeb_, "With a heart and a heart." They seem... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 12:3. _PROUD THINGS_] גדלות _gedoloth, great things_; great swelling words, both in their _promises_ and in their _commendations_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 12:4. _OUR LIPS_ ARE _OUR OWN_] Many think, because they have the faculty of speaking, that therefore they may speak what they please. Old MS. - The qwilk sayd, our toung we sal wyrchip, our lippes er of us, qwas our Lorde? Tha Ypocrites worchepes thair toung; for thai hee tham self ja... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 12:5. _FOR THE OPPRESSION OF THE POOR_] This seems to refer best to the tribulations which the poor Israelites suffered while captives in Babylon. The Lord represents himself as looking on and seeing their affliction; and, hearing their cry, he determines to come forward to their help.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 12:6. _THE WORDS OF THE LORD_ ARE _PURE WORDS_] None of his promises shall fall to the ground; the salvation which he has promised shall be communicated. _SILVER TRIED IN A FURNACE OF EARTH_] A reference to the purification of silver by the _cupel_. This is a sort of instrument used i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 12:7. _THOU SHALT KEEP THEM - THOU SHALT PRESERVE THEM_] Instead of the pronoun _them_ in these clauses, several MSS., with the _Septuagint_, the _Vulgate_, and the _Arabic_, have us. The sense is equally good in both readings. God did bring forth the Israelites from Babylon, according... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 12:8. _THE WICKED WALK ON EVERY SIDE_] The land is full of them. _When the vilest men are exalted_; rather, _As villany gains_ _ground among the sons of Adam_. See the Hebrew. The _Vulgate_ has, "In circuito impii ambulant; secundum altitudinem tuam multiplicasti filios hominum;" which... [ Continue Reading ]