Psalm 12:2-4 NASB,NASB

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 12:4

(4) With our tongue.—This is the proud saying just mentioned, and is plainly a boast of the power possessed by those who have the ear of persons in authority, and can adroitly “make the worse appear the better cause”; or being themselves in high places, can, like Angelo in Measure for Measure, defy the accusations of their victims:—“Who will believe thee, Isabel?My place in the StateWill so your accusation overweighThat you shall stifle in your own report,And smell of calumny.”But there is... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 12:1-8

Psalms 12:5 This verse was the text of a sermon preached by Dr. Fabricius before Gustavus Adolphus, when he took Augsburg after a severe fight, in which the honour of the day was given by the king to the Scottish Brigade under Colonel Hepburn. A solemn thanksgiving was held in the principal church, and religious liberty was proclaimed in the city of the famous Confession, while the ferocious Tilly, after his defeat, returned breathing out threatenings and slaughter. John Ker. read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

Psalms 12:1-8ONE penalty of living near God is keen pain from low lives. The ears that hear God’s word cannot but be stunned and hurt by the babble of empty speech. This psalm is profoundly melancholy, but without trace of personal affliction. The psalmist is not sad for himself, but sick of the clatter of godless tongues, in which he discerns the outcome of godless lives. His plaint wakes echoes in hearts touched by the love of God and the visions of man’s true life. It passes through four... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 12:1-8

Psalms 12:0 1. The arrogance of the wicked in the last days (Psalms 12:1-4 ) 2. Then Jehovah will act and deliver His people (Psalms 12:5-8 ) Psalms 12:1-4 . It is the time of departure from the Lord; the godly and faithful have ceased. It is a mass of corruption, lying lips, flattering lips, proud lips. They reject the Lord. “Who is lord over us?” Psalms 12:5-8 . Then faith sees the coming intervention. The Lord will speak. “Now will I arise, saith Jehovah, I will set him in safety whom... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 12:2

12:2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] {b} flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.(b) He means the flatters of the court which hurt him more with their tongues than with their weapons. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Psalms 12:4

12:4 Who have said, {c} With our tongue will we prevail; our lips [are] our own: who [is] lord over us?(c) They think themselves able to persuade whatever they take in hand. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:1-8

Psalms 11:0 A song of trust. The declaration “In the Lord put I my trust” (Psalms 11:1 ) is buttressed by the reason (Psalms 11:7 ), while all between describes the condition in which David finds himself. Urged to flee from his enemies (Psalms 11:1 ), he shows the futility of the attempt (Psalms 11:2 ). The moral foundations are being undermined (Psalms 11:3 ), and only Jehovah is able to discriminate and judge (Psalms 11:4-6 ). Psalms 12:0 The evil speaker. The close relation between this... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Psalms 12:1-8

The Ideal Christianity Psalms 12:0 Help, Lord" ( Psa 12:1 ). That may be a good prayer or a bad one. There is nothing in the words themselves to indicate the quality of the petition. Everything depends upon the spiritual condition of the petitioner. A man may cry to God for help with a very selfish heart, without any due recognition of God's claim, God's nature, God's kingdom. The prayers of the wicked are an abomination unto the Lord. There is no meaner cry than "Help, Lord," unless it be... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 12:2-4

While the Lord's people are not earnest to assemble, the vain will assemble, and their conversation will be trifling. The children of this world are, in their generation, wiser than the children of light. But, Reader, it is not among the vain and the carnal that we find vain conversation only. Alas! as our Lord foretold concerning the latter days, so we find it; because iniquity abounds, the love of many is waxen cold. Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon! read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:2

Day; frequently. (Worthington) --- Septuagint adds, "and night." (Calmet) --- These cares and perplexities arise from persecutions and from man's weakness. (Worthington) read more