Psalms 12:8

_THE WICKED WALK ON EVERY SIDE, WHEN THE VILEST MEN ARE EXALTED._ The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. Hengstenberg rightly objects to this rendering, that the repetition of the complaint, without mention of the believer's hope, would be a quite unsatisfactory conclusion. The first clause implies the danger to which the godly are exposed through the wicked 'walking on every side' (Psalms 3:6). Their urgent need of help is a strong ground for their confidently expecting it. The last clause is explained by Hengstenberg as an enigmatic summary of the psalm: "The wicked walk on every side;" (but) depression (namely, that to which the righteous have sunk) is as elevation to the sons of men. Their sufferings from the wicked are a token of their coming exaltation: the righteous God will recompense them for their depression now as 'sons of men,' weak and despi

8._The ungodly walk about on every side. _The Hebrew word סביב,_sabib, _which we have translated _on every side, _signifies _a circuit, _or _a going round; _and, therefore, some explain it allegorically thus: the ungodly seize upon all the defiles or narrow parts of roads, in order to shut up or besiege the good on all sides; and others expound it even more ingeniously, thus: that they lay snares by indirect means, and by inventions full of art and deception. But I think the simple meaning is, that they possess the whole land, and range about through every part of it; as if the Psalmist had said, Wherever I turn my eyes, I see troops of them on every side. In the next clause he complains that mankind are shamefully and basely oppressed by their tyranny. This is the meaning, provided the clause is read as a distinct one by itself, separate from the preceding, a point about which interpret...

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 is thus translated and paraphrased in my old MS.: - _Trans_. _In umgang wiked gos: eftir thy heenes thu has multiplied_ _the sons of man_. _Par_. _Us thy kepes; bot wiked gas in umgang_; that es, in covatyng of erdley gudes, that turned with the whele of seven daies: in the qwilk covatys, thai ryn ay aboute; for that sett nane endyng of thaire syn: and tharfor settes God na terme of thair pyne, but sons of men that lyfs skilwisly and in ryghtwisnes, thu has multiplied, aftir thi heghnes in vertus; aftir the heghnes o

THE WICKED WALK ON EVERY SIDE - Everywhere. They have full license, or seem to be wholly unrestrained. WHEN THE VILEST MEN ARE EXALTED - Margin, “The vilest of the sons of men are exalted.” This expression has been very variously translated. Dr. Horsley renders it, “When the scorn of the sons of men is exalted.” De Wette, “They exalt themselves; terror to the sons of men.” Luther, “Where such wicked people rule among the sons of men.” Hengstenberg, “Like exaltation is disgrace to the sons of men.” Prof. Alexander seems inclined to favor this last view. According to this interpretation, the meaning is, that “although the wicked are now in the ascendant, and the righteous are treated with contempt, this disgrace is realy an exaltation, because only ... in man’s judgment, not in God’s, who will abundantly indemnity his people for the dishonor put upon them.” The word rendered in our version...

EXPOSITION ANOTHER Davidical psalm, both according to the title and to the general opinion of critics; said (like Psalms 6:1.) to be "upon Sheminith"—an expression of uncertain meaning. It consists of a complaint (Psalms 12:1, Psalms 12:2), a menace (Psalms 12:3, Psalms 12:4), and a promise (Psalms 12:5). Metrically, it seems to divide itself into four stanzas—the first, second, and fourth, of four lines each; the third, of six lines. There is nothing

THE WICKED WALK ON EVERY SIDE,.... Of the poor and needy, of the righteous ones, to watch them, lay snares for them, and hurt them; therefore, Lord, keep and preserve them: the wicked are everywhere in great numbers, the whole world lies in wickedness; and the men of it are like their father the devil, they go about to do all the mischief they can to the saints; wherefore they stand in need continually of divine preservation; WHEN THE VILEST MEN ARE EXALTED: either to great dignities and high offices, to be magistrates and rulers; see Proverbs 29:2; or are highly esteemed and caressed; which shows the sad degeneracy and badness of the times, and the unsafe and dangerous condition the people of God are in, unless kept by him; see Malachi 3:15; or else these words may be considered as expr

Psalms 12:1. _Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men._ The Psalm speaks of a very discouraging time, and records a very dreary fact, but the psalmist is wise, and turns to God with that short, sententious prayer, «Help, Lord.» Psalms 12:2. _They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:_ They will not be able to continue speaking falsely and proudly for over; a shovelful of earth from the grave-digger's spade will silence them, and a terrible display of God's justice will make them speechless for ever....

Psalms 12 _ 1. The arrogance of the wicked in the last days (Psalms 12:1)_ 2. Then Jehovah will act and deliver His people (Psalms 12:5) Psalms 12:1. It is the time of departure from the Lord; the godly and faithful have ceased. It is a mass of corruption, lying lips, flattering lips, proud lips. They reject the Lord. “Who is lord over us?” Psalms 12:5. Then faith sees the coming intervention. The Lord will speak. “Now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set him in safety whom they would puff.” Jehovah will keep His people in these coming dark

XII. A PRAYER OF FAITHFUL JEWS AGAINST THE ARROGANT TONGUE OF THE UNGODLY. Psalms 12:1_._ The godly man ceaseth (see Psalms 4:1). The wicked acknowledge no responsibility for their words: they say, To our tongues we give might, _i.e._ free rein. Psalms 12:5. Yahweh declares His intention of rising in defence of the poor and needy. Here the author quotes (unless the identity of the words be mere coincidence) Isaiah 33:10. He relies on a Divine promise there given, to which he now (Psalms 12:5_ b_) appeals. Well may he rely on the

WICKED. lawless. Hebrew. _rasha'._ App-44. MEN: i.e. the sons of Adam, as in Psalms 12:1. TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN. See App-64. TITLE.. PSALM. See App-65....