Psalm 12:3-8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 refer ence to the purification of silver by the cupel. This is a sort of instrument used in the purification of silver. It may be formed out of a strong iron ring or hoop, adjusted in width and depth to the quantum of silver to be purified, and rammed full of well pulverized calcined bone. The metal to be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 to his word; he separated them from that generation. and reinstated them in their own land, according to his word; and most certainly he has preserved them from generation to generation to the present day, in a most... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:3

Verse 3 To his complaint in the preceding verse he now subjoins an imprecation, that God would cut off deceitful tongues. It is uncertain whether he wishes that deceitful men may be utterly destroyed, or only that the means of doing mischief may be taken from them; but the scope of the passage leads us rather to adopt the first sense, and to view David as desiring that God, by some means or other, would remove that plague out of the way. As he makes no mention of malice, while he inveighs so... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:4

Verse 4 This the Psalmist confirms more fully in the following verse: Who have said, we will be strengthened by our tongues Those must be possessed of great authority who think that, in the very falsehood to which they are addicted, they have enough of strength to accomplish their purposes, and to protect themselves. It is the utmost height of wickedness for persons to break out into such presumption, that they scruple not to overthrow all law and equity by their arrogant and boasting language;... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:5

Verse 5 5.Because of the spoiling of the needy. David now sets before himself as matter of consolation, the truth that God will not suffer the wicked thus to make havoc without end and measure. The more effectually to establish himself and others in the belief of this truth, he introduces God himself as speaking. The expression is more emphatic when God is represented as coming forward and declaring with his own mouth that he is come to deliver the poor and distressed. There is also great... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:6

Verse 6 6.The words of Jehovah. The Psalmist now declares, that God is sure, faithful, and steadfast in his promises. But the insertion by the way of this commendation of the word of God would be to no purpose, if he had not first called himself, and other believers, to meditate on God’s promises in their afflictions. Accordingly, the order of the Psalmist is to be attended to, namely, that, after telling us how God gives to his servants the hope of speedy deliverance, even in their deepest... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:7

Verse 7 7.Thou, O Jehovah. Some think that the language of the Psalmist here is that of renewed prayer; and they, therefore, understand the words as expressive of his desire, and translate them in the optative mood, thus, Do thou, O Jehovah, keep them (266) But I am rather of opinion that David, animated with holy confidence, boasts of the certain safety of all the godly, of whom God, who neither can deceive nor lie, avows himself to be the guardian. At the same time, I do not altogether... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:8

Verse 8 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,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

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