Psalm 120:2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 120:1-4

Here is, I. Deliverance from a false tongue obtained by prayer. David records his own experience of this. 1. He was brought into distress, into great distress, by lying lips and a deceitful tongue. There were those that sought his ruin, and had almost effected it, by lying. (1.) By telling lies to him. They flattered him with professions and protestations of friendships, and promises of kindness and service to him, that they might the more securely and without suspicion carry on their designs... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 120:2

Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. Not from such lips, and such a tongue of his own, which David abhorred; though every good man desires to be kept from speaking lies and deceit; nor from the company of those who have such lips and tongues, which he was determined should not dwell with him; but from the malignity of them, from being hurt in his character and reputation by them; God can restrain them, and prevent the ill influence of them when he pleases,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 120:2

Lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue - From a people without faith, without truth, without religion; who sought by lies and calumnies to destroy them. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 120:2

Verse 2 2.O Jehovah! deliver my soul from the lip of falsehood. David now points out the kind of his affliction, declaring that he was loaded with false accusations. In charging his enemies with lying and falsehood, he asserts his own innocence of the crimes which they slanderously imputed to him. His complaint therefore amounts to this, that as he was conscious of having committed no fault, he was assaulted by the wicked contrary to all law, human and divine, and that they brought him into... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:1-2

The misery made by the untruthful. This is the first of fifteen psalms that are called "Songs of Degrees;" Revised Version, " Songs of Ascent;" literally, "Songs of Going up." The association of them with the journeying of country pilgrims to the feasts at Jerusalem is somewhat fanciful. These psalms are naturally explained as "Songs of Heart-uplifting." The key-note of them all is looking up out of some present distress, and seeking the help of God. "I will lift up mine eyes unto the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:1-7

Of the title itself different explanations are given. Some regard the degrees ( ma ' aloth ) as "steps," and accept a rabbinical explanation, that the psalms were written for chanting upon fifteen steps, which led from the Court of the Women in the temple to the Court of the Men. But there is no sufficient evidence of the existence of these steps. Others, translating ma ' aloth by "ascents," suggest that they are psalms composed for the Jews to chant on their ascent from Babylon to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:1-7

The perversion of power, etc. This psalm, though "a difference of opinion exists respecting the interpretation of almost every verse and word of it ," may suggest valuable thoughts upon— I. THE PERVERSION OF POWER . It speaks of "lying lips," a "deceitful tongue," and of the "false tongue" ( Psalms 120:2 , Psalms 120:3 ). We may say that sin is perversion; it is the misdirection and abuse of our various faculties and organs; turning to a bad account all our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:1-7

In Mesech and Kedar. This psalm is a piteous declaration of the unhappy lot of him who is surrounded by the false, the treacherous, and the cruel. They of Mesech—the Moschi of Herodotus (see Exposition)—dwelt where now the horribly bloodthirsty Kurds have their habitation, who of late years have horrified all Christendom by their barbarous atrocities inflicted on the Christian Armenians. Amid men of such sort the psalmist is complaining that he has to dwell ( Psalms 120:5 ). It is a tale... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:2

Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips . Such as Sanballat's (— Nehemiah 6:6-8 ). And from a deceitful tongue ; literally, a tongue that is fraud—a mere variant of the expression in the preceding clause. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 120:2

Deliver my soul, O Lord - My soul is harassed and distressed. Perhaps the meaning also may be, My life is in danger. Or, if it refers to the soul as such, then it means that everything pertaining to his soul was deeply affected by the course which was pursued. He was maligned, slandered, misrepresented, deceived, and he had no comfort or peace.From lying lips - False, deceitful, slanderous. Compare the notes at Psalms 31:18.And from a deceitful tongue - From a tongue whose statements cannot be... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 120:1-4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 120:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 120:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 120:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 120:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 120:2

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