Psalm 12:1-2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

This psalm furnishes us with good thoughts for bad times, in which, though the prudent will keep silent (Amos 5:13) because a man may then be made an offender for a word, yet we may comfort ourselves with such suitable meditations and prayers as are here got ready to our hand. I. Let us see here what it is that makes the times bad, and when they may be said to be so. Ask the children of this world what it is in their account that makes the times bad, and they will tell you, Scarcity of money,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:1

Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth ,.... A godly man, according to the notation of the word F26 חסיד "passive pro beneficiario, sive alterius beneficiis gratiosis cumulato", Gejerus. , is one that has received grace and mercy of the Lord; as pardoning mercy, justifying and adopting grace; and who has principles of grace, goodness, and holiness, wrought in him; who fears the Lord, and serves him acceptably, with reverence and godly fear, and sorrows for sin, after a godly sort; who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:2

They speak vanity everyone with his neighbour ,.... That which is false and a lie, either doctrinal or practical; what was not according to the word of God, and was vain and empty, frothy, filthy, and corrupt; and which no godly and faithful man would do. And this being done in common, by the generality of men, one with another, shows the degeneracy of the age, and supports the complaint before made. They speak even with flattering lips ; as Cain did to Abel, Joab to Amasa, the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:1

Help, Lord - Save me, O Lord; for merciful men fail, and faithful men have passed away from the sons of Adam. Make safe me, Lord; for haly failed, for lessed es sothfastnes fra sons of men. Old MS. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:2

They speak vanity every one with his neighbor - They are false and hollow; they say one thing while they mean another; there is no trusting to what they say. Flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak - ולב בלב beleb valeb , "With a heart and a heart." They seem to have two hearts; one to speak fair words, and the other to invent mischief. The old MS. both translates and paraphrases curiously. Trans. Dayn spak ilkan til his neghbur: swykil lippis in hert, and thurgh... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:1

Verse 1 To the chief musician upon the eighth. With respect to the word eighth, there are two opinions among interpreters. According to some, it means a musical instrument; while others are rather inclined to think that it is a tune. But as it is of no great importance which of these opinions is adopted, I do not trouble myself much about this matter. The conjecture of some, that it was the beginning of a song, does not seem to me to be so probable as that it refers to the tune, and was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:2

Verse 2 2.Every man speaketh deceit. David in this verse sets forth that part of unrighteousness which is contrary to truth. He says that there is no sincerity or uprightness in their speech, because the great object upon which they are bent is to deceive. He next describes the manner in which they deceive, namely, that every man endeavors to ensnare his neighbor by flattery (257) He also points out the fountain and first cause of this, They speak with a double heart. This doubleness of heart,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1

Help, Lord ; rather, Save , Lord , as in the margin (comp. Psalms 20:9 ; Psalms 28:9 ; Psalms 60:5 , etc.). For the godly man ceaseth . "Ceaseth," i.e; "out of the land "—either slain or driven into exile. We must make allowance for poetic hyperbole. For the faithful fail from among the children of men (compare, for the sentiment, Micah 7:2 ). The writer, for the moment, loses sight of the "remnant"—the "little flock "—which assuredly remained, and of which he speaks in ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

Hard, times. This psalm has no indication of the time in which it was written. £ At whatever time, however, it may have been penned, there is no doubt about the general features of the age here represented. It was one in which good men were becoming more and more rare, in which the wicked abounded, and took occasion from the numerical inferiority of the righteous to indulge in haughty and vain talk against them and against God. The psalmist looks with concern and distress upon this state... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 12:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

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