Psalm 12:1 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

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

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

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

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