Psalms 12 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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1Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
PSALM 12
Psa 12:1-8. On title, see Introduction and see on Psa 6:1. The Psalmist laments the decrease of good men. The pride and deceit of the wicked provokes God's wrath, whose promise to avenge the cause of pious sufferers will be verified even amidst prevailing iniquity.
1. the faithful--or literally, "faithfulness" (Psa 31:23).
2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
2. The want of it is illustrated by the prevalence of deceit and instability.
3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
3-4. Boasting (Da 7:25) is, like flattery, a species of lying.
lips, and ... tongue--for persons.
4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
3-4. Boasting (Da 7:25) is, like flattery, a species of lying.
lips, and ... tongue--for persons.
5For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
5. The writer intimates his confidence by depicting God's actions (compare Psa 9:19; 10:12) as coming to save the poor at whom the wicked sneer (Psa 10:5).
6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
6. The words--literally, "saying of" (Psa 12:5).
seven times--thoroughly (Da 3:19).
7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
7. them--(Margin.)
8The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
8. The wicked roam undisturbed doing evil, when vileness and vile men are exalted.