Bible Commentaries
Psalms 12

Verse 1

12:1 [To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.] Help, LORD; for the {a} godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

(a) Who dare defend the truth and show mercy to the oppressed.

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 5

12:5 {d} For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will {e} set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.

(d) The Lord is moved with the complaints of his, and delivers in the end from all danger.

(e) Because the Lord’s word and promise is true and unchangeable he will perform it and preserve the poor from this wicked generation.

Verse 7

12:7 Thou shalt keep {f} them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

(f) That is, yours though was only one man.

Verse 8

12:8 The wicked walk on every side, {g} when the vilest men are exalted.

(g) For they suppress the godly and maintain the wicked.