Psalm 12:1-2 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

Christian growth. I. TROUBLE MOVES MEN TO PRAYER . ( Psalms 12:1 .) As the child instinctively cries to its father, so we cry to God. Society may wax worse and worse. The righteous may fail out of the land. It is hard to serve alone. Falsehood and lust prevail. There are fears on every side. In God alone is our help found. II. PRAYER STRENGTHENS FAITH . ( Psalms 12:3 , Psalms 12:4 .) There is some relief in telling our griefs. Further, we are cheered by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

Lamentation over the growing corruption of the nation. "The psalmist is appalled by the rottenness of society around him; unscrupulous ambition appears to rule supreme; truth is scorned as folly, and the god of lies is enthroned in the national heart. But God had not left himself without a witness." Prophets and seers had already declared the Divine word of promise, that the righteous cause should be upheld and vindicated. I. A DARK PICTURE OF DEPRAVED SOCIETY . 1 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:2

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour ; rather, they speak falsehood (Kay, Cheyne). Contrast the injunction of the apostle ( Ephesians 4:25 ). With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak; literally, with lips of smoothness , and with a heart and a heart do they speak. The Authorized Version gives the true meaning. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 12:1

Help, Lord - Hebrew, “Save, Yahweh.” The idea is that there was no human help, and, therefore, the divine help is implored. The psalmist saw that those on whom reliance was usually placed for the promotion of the cause of truth and virtue now failed, and hence, he invites the divine interposition.For the godly man - The word used here properly denotes the “merciful” man - חסיד châsı̂yd. It is a term applied to the righteous, because it is a prominent trait in the character of a pious man that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 12:2

They speak vanity - This is a statement of the “manner” in which the “godly” and the “faithful” fail, as stated in Psalms 12:1. One of the ways was that there was a disregard of truth; that no confidence could be placed on the statements of those who professed to be pious; that they dealt falsely with their neighbors. The word “vanity” here is equivalent to “falsehood.” What they spoke was a vain and empty thing, instead of being the truth. It had no reality, and could not be depended on.Every... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:1

Psalms 12:1. 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 even truth and honesty in their conversation and dealings with men. “The universal depravity of Jew and Gentile caused the church of old to pray earnestly for the first advent... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:2

Psalms 12:2. 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 pretend a friendship for him. “When men cease to be faithful to their God, he who expects to find them so to each other will be much disappointed. The primitive sincerity will accompany... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

Psalms 11-13 Persevere . . . or give in?There came a time when David became tired of his continual flight from Saul, not just because it was wearying, but because it was cutting him off from the public worship places of God’s people (1 Samuel 26:19). His spiritual life was weakened and he gave in to the temptation to leave his own country for the safety of enemy Philistia (1 Samuel 27:1). This is the sort of temptation that David considers in Psalms 11:0, the temptation to go along with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 12:1

To the chief Musician. See App-64 . upon Sheminith = the Sheminith. See App-65 . Title. A Psalm. See App-65 . Help = Save. godly man = "gracious [man]". ceaseth = is no more. Compare Isaiah 57:1 .Micah 7:2 . faithful. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , put for faithful men. children of men = sons of men. (Hebrew ' adam . App-14 .) read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 12:2

They speak. Man's words contrasted with Jehovah's words. Compare Psalms 12:6 , and see Structure above. double = deceitful. Hebrew "a heart and a heart". Compare 1 Chronicles 12:33 . read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 12:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 12:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:2

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 12:1

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 12:2

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