Psalm 12:3-8

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Psalms 12:1-8

Out of a consciousness of the terrible evil of his times, the worshiper cries to Jehovah for help. The failure of godly men and faithful souls is always the gravest peril which can threaten a nation or an age. There is no trouble which more heavily afflicts the heart of the trusting. The note here is more characterized by faith than that of Psalms 10:1-18. Here is a cry for help but no suggestion that God is indifferent. Indeed, there is an immediate affirmation of confidence in the interest... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:5

GOOD CHEER FOR BAD TIMES‘Now will I arise, saith the Lord.’Psalms 12:5 I. Times were bad.—All society was tainted. Truth was nowhere: falseness everywhere. Men’s hearts were double. Flattering lips spoke slander, hypocrisy, and lies, and were full of proud boastings. Shamelessly, too, did they justify it all with the impious saying: ‘Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?’ It is loss of character, rather than loss of trade, that makes times really bad—when there is a general decay of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:3-4

‘YHWH will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that makes great boasts, Who have said, ‘With our tongue will we prevail, Our lips are our own, who is lord over us?’ ’ YHWH assures him in his heart that it will not always be so. Those who have flattering lips will be cut off, as will those with a boastful tongue. They thought they could speak as they liked, they thought that their powerful words would enable them to achieve their own selfish ends, they challenged the right of anyone to be... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:5

‘Because of the oppression of the poor, Because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, says YHWH, I will set him in the safety that he pants for.’ But they should recognise that YHWH sees all that happens on earth, and He was aware of the oppression of the poor. He heard the sighing of those in need. He saw their panting after deliverance. And because of such things He will arise, and will remedy the situation, and give them the security that they long for. Truth and righteousness will... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:6

‘The words of YHWH are pure words, As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times. In contrast to the deceit and falsehood of men the words of YHWH are true and pure, and totally to be relied on. They are like silver which has been refined, yes refined ‘seven times’ (totally and completely), as silver on earth needs to be. But the words of YHWH are so pure that they do not need such a refining process. They are already purer than any silver on earth, even though they are... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:7

‘You will keep them, O YHWH. You will preserve them from this generation for ever. The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.’ So through His word YHWH will keep His people and will continue to preserve them through the generations for ever. His words are the perfect antidote to unbelief, sin and deceit. But meanwhile sin will continue to walk abroad, the unrighteous will appear to be on every side, and vileness will be exalted among men. They will boast... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:1-8

XII. A Prayer of Faithful Jews against the Arrogant Tongue of the Ungodly. Psalms 12:1-Numbers : . “ The godly man ceaseth” (see Psalms 4:1-Deuteronomy :). The wicked acknowledge no responsibility for their words: they say, “ To our tongues we give might,” i.e. free rein. Psalms 12:5-Ruth : . 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... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 12:3

Or great things, or great words, either bragging or threatening what they will do, and what great things they will effect, to wit, by their tongues, as they themselves explain it in the next verse, which they will use so cunningly and powerfully, that they shall not need to use their hands, or strike a stroke. read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 12:4

With our tongue will we prevail, by raising and spreading slanders and evil reports concerning him, whereby both Saul will be highly and implacably enraged against David, and the hearts of the people alienated from him; which was indeed a very likely way to prevail against, him, and that by their tongues only. Our lips are our own, i.e. at our own dispose to speak what we please. Who is lord over us; who can control or restrain us? This was not the language of their mouths, for they were... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 12:5

For the oppression of the poor; oppressed by Saul through the instigation and artifices of his fawning courtiers. Now; speedily, sooner than they imagine or expect. From him that puffeth at him, i.e. from him that despiseth him, and hopeth to destroy him with a puff of breath, or a parcel of words. See this phrase Psalms 10:5. Only there it is construed with beth, and here with lamed; which may make some difference. And the supplement in our translation may seem to be large, and not necessary.... read more

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Psalms 12:1-8

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:5

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:3-4

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:5

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:6

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:7

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:1-8

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 12:3

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 12:4

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 12:5

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