Death, by mortal sin, (Worthington) or through excessive sorrow, Jeremias li. 39. Shew me thy favour, (Calmet) and I shall be secure. Sleep is represented as nearly related to death. (Homer, Iliad xiv.) Tum consanguineus lethi sopor. (Virgil, 'c6neid vi.) (Haydock) read more
Prayer for God's Protection of His Church. This psalm again shows a prophetical strain; it is applicable throughout to the little flock, the poor, small crew of the Christian Church, in its many vicissitudes. Cf Acts 2:30. To the chief musician upon Sheminith, upon the octave, to be sung or played with bass voices, or, on an eight-stringed instrument, a psalm of David. v. 1. Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, it was a time when true piety was decreasing both in amount and in influence; ... read more
Psalms 12:0To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David1 Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth;For the faithful fail from among the children of men.2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour:With flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips,And the tongue that speaketh proud things:4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail;Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?5 For the oppression of the... read more
God Our Refuge and Defense Psalms 11:1-7 ; Psalms 12:1-8 The first of these is a debate between fear and faith, and dates from Saul’s persecutions. Timid friends, anxious for David’s safety, urged him to flee to the mountains. Such counsels of expediency are frequently given to the servants of God, Nehemiah 6:1-19 . Luther’s diaries are full of such references. But unless our duty is performed, we must stand our ground; we “can do no other.” We must remember that God’s love is with us, and... read more
Out of a consciousness of the terrible evil of his times, the worshiper cries to Jehovah for help. The failure of godly men and faithful souls is always the gravest peril which can threaten a nation or an age. There is no trouble which more heavily afflicts the heart of the trusting. The note here is more characterized by faith than that of Psalms 10:1-18. Here is a cry for help but no suggestion that God is indifferent. Indeed, there is an immediate affirmation of confidence in the interest... read more
‘Help, YHWH, for the godly man ceases, For the faithful have disappeared from among the children of men. They speak falsehood every one with his neighbour. With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.’ It is a sad day for good men when it appears as though all godly men have disappeared (compare Hosea 4:1-2; Micah 7:2-6; Isaiah 57:1; Isaiah 59:12-15; Jeremiah 5:1-4; Jeremiah 7:28; Jeremiah 9:2-6). It often seems to be the case, but it is never truly so. This godly man who writes... read more
‘YHWH will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that makes great boasts, Who have said, ‘With our tongue will we prevail, Our lips are our own, who is lord over us?’ ’ YHWH assures him in his heart that it will not always be so. Those who have flattering lips will be cut off, as will those with a boastful tongue. They thought they could speak as they liked, they thought that their powerful words would enable them to achieve their own selfish ends, they challenged the right of anyone to be... read more
XII. A Prayer of Faithful Jews against the Arrogant Tongue of the Ungodly. Psalms 12:1-Numbers : . “ The godly man ceaseth” (see Psalms 4:1-Deuteronomy :). The wicked acknowledge no responsibility for their words: they say, “ To our tongues we give might,” i.e. free rein. Psalms 12:5-Ruth : . Yahweh declares His intention of rising in defence of the poor and needy. Here the author quotes (unless the identity of the words be mere coincidence) Isaiah 33:10. He relies on a Divine promise there... read more
Vanity; or, falsehood, which is a vain thing, and wants the solidity of truth. With a double heart; pretending one heart, and that they speak from a kind and upright heart, when they really have another, even a cruel and deceitful heart. read more
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George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 12:3
Enemy; Saul, &c., or the devil. (St. Augustine) (Calmet) read more