Bible Commentaries
Psalms 12

Verses 1-8

XII. A Prayer of Faithful Jews against the Arrogant Tongue of the Ungodly.

Psalms 12:1-4 . “ The godly man ceaseth” (see Psalms 4:1-5). The wicked acknowledge no responsibility for their words: they say, “ To our tongues we give might,” i.e. free rein.

Psalms 12:5-8 . 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 given, to which he now ( Psalms 12:5 b) appeals. Well may he rely on the promise, for Yahweh’ s words are like silver purified from dross seven times over. The Ps. must be very late, if it really quotes Isaiah 33* as Scripture, for that chapter probably belongs to the second century B.C.

Psalms 12:6 . furnace on the earth: the words are of unknown meaning.