Psalm 12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 12:8

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... read more

Joseph Benson

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

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 deceitful and proud, Psalms 12:3 , Psalms 12:4 . Assures himself and others that, how corrupt soever the times were, God would deliver and preserve his own people, and make good his promises to... 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:3

Psalms 12:3 . 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 declaring, or threatening what they will do, and what great things they will effect, namely, with their tongues, as they themselves explain it in the next words. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:4

Psalms 12:4. 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 can, or has any right to control us; or to call us to an account? read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:5

Psalms 12:5. 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 hopes to destroy him with a puff of breath. “The beauty and energy of this fine prosopopœia,” says Dr. Dodd, “must be felt by every reader.” When oppressors are in the height of their... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:6

Psalms 12:6. 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 dross; from all folly, or fraud, or uncertainty. “Often have they been put to the test, in the trials of the faithful, like silver committed to the furnace in an earthen crucible; but,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:7

Psalms 12:7. 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, that is, thy poor and lowly servant, (spoken of Psalms 12:5,) from the craft and malice of this crooked and perverse generation of men, so that he shall neither be circumvented by... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 12:8

Psalms 12:8. 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 execution against vice and injustice, and punishing the wicked according to their deserts, patronize and protect them, or give them countenance and support by their own example. The... read more

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