_A.M. 2944. B.C. 1060._ In this Psalm David, who was the author of it, as the title informs us, complains of the decrease of God's faithful servants, and of the prevalence of falsehood and treachery in the world, Psalms 12:1; Psalms 12:2. Foretels the destruction of the wicked, especially of the de... [ Continue Reading ]
_Help, Lord_ Hebrew, הושׁיעה, _hoshigna, save, Jehovah;_ namely, me and other good men, from the subtlety and rage of wicked men; _for the godly man ceaseth_ חסיד, _chasid, the kind_, or, _merciful man_, as the word properly means. _The faithful fail_, &c. Men have lost, not only serious piety, that... [ Continue Reading ]
_They speak vanity_ Or, _falsehood_, which is a vain thing, and wants the solidity of truth. _With a double heart do they speak_ See the margin. They speak as if they had two hearts, the one inclining them to hate their neighbour, and form designs against him, and the other to prompt the tongue to p... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips_ All such as speak kind things to any one, at the same time that they mean quite the contrary in their hearts; _and the tongue that speaketh proud things_ Hebrew, גדלות, _gedoleth, great things_, or, _great words_, boasting what they have done, or declarin... [ Continue Reading ]
_With our tongues will we prevail_ By raising and spreading evil reports concerning him. We will have the better of all that oppose us; and our tongues are the instruments whereby we will get the victory. _Our lips are our own_ At our own disposal to speak what we please. _Who is lord over us?_ Who... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the oppression of the poor_ Because the poor that put their trust in me, and send up their prayers to me for help, are thus oppressed; _now will I arise, saith the Lord_ Speedily, sooner than they imagine or expect. _I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him_ That despises him, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_The words of the Lord are pure_ Without the least mixture of falsehood, and therefore shall be infallibly fulfilled. Men often speak _rashly_, and promise what they cannot perform, and _deceitfully_, what they never intend to perform. But God's words are different; they are pure from all manner of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt keep them_ Thy words or promises last mentioned. Hebrew, תשׁמרם, _tishmerem, thou wilt observe them;_ and what thou hast promised shall surely be performed, since with thee is no variableness nor shadow of turning. _Thou wilt preserve them_ Hebrew, תצרני, _titzrennu thou wilt keep him_,... [ Continue Reading ]
_The wicked walk on every side_ They fill all places, and go about boldly and securely, seeking to deceive, corrupt, and destroy others, being neither afraid nor ashamed to discover themselves; _when the vilest of men are exalted_ To places of trust and power, who, instead of putting the laws in exe... [ Continue Reading ]