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Matthew Henry

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 12:2

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 12:2

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 12:2

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 12:1-8

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 12:2

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour ; rather, they speak falsehood (Kay, Cheyne). Contrast the injunction of the apostle ( Ephesians 4:25 ). With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak; literally, with lips of smoothness , and with a heart and a heart do they speak. The Authorized Version gives the true meaning. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 12:2

They speak vanity - This is a statement of the “manner” in which the “godly” and the “faithful” fail, as stated in Psalms 12:1. One of the ways was that there was a disregard of truth; that no confidence could be placed on the statements of those who professed to be pious; that they dealt falsely with their neighbors. The word “vanity” here is equivalent to “falsehood.” What they spoke was a vain and empty thing, instead of being the truth. It had no reality, and could not be depended on.Every... read more

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