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Psalms 12

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1Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

3May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

4who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?"

5"Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says Yahweh; "I will set him in safety from those who malign him."

6The words of Yahweh are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times.

7You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.

8The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men. For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.

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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.

Psalms 12:1-999 Chapter 12

The psalmist begs help of God, because there were none among men whom he durst trust. --This psalm furnishes good thoughts for bad times; a man may comfort himself with such meditations and prayers. Let us see what makes the times bad, and when they may be said to be so. Ask the children of this world, What makes the times bad? they will tell you, Scarcity of money, decay of trade, and the desolations of war, make the times bad: but the Scripture lays the badness of the times on causes of another nature, 2Ti 3:1, &c.: perilous times shall come, for sin shall abound; and of this David complains. When piety decays times really are bad. He who made man's mouth will call him to an account for his proud, profane, dissembling, or even useless words. When the poor and needy are oppressed, then the times are very bad. God himself takes notice of the oppression of the poor, and the sighing of the needy. When wickedness abounds, and is countenanced by those in authority, then the times are very bad. See with what good things we are here furnished for such bad times; and we cannot tell what times we may be reserved for. 1. We have a God to go to, from whom we may ask and expect the redress of all our grievances. 2. God will certainly punish and restrain false and proud men. 3. God will work deliverance for his oppressed people. His help is given in the fittest time. Though men are false, God is faithful; though they are not to be trusted, God is. The preciousness of God's word is compared to silver refined to the highest degree. How many proofs have been given of its power and truth! God will secure his chosen remnant, however bad the times are. As long as the world stands, there will be a generation of proud and wicked men. But all God's people are put into the hands of Christ our Saviour; there they are in safety, for none can pluck them thence; being built on Him, the Rock, they are safe, notwithstanding temptation or persecution come with ever so much force upon them.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.

Psalms 12:1 On title, see Introduction and see on Ps 6:1. The Psalmist

the faithful--or literally, "faithfulness" (Ps 31:23).

Psalms 12:1-8 On title, see Introduction and see on Ps 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.

Psalms 12:2 On title, see Introduction and see on Ps 6:1. The Psalmist

The want of it is illustrated by the prevalence of deceit and instability.

Psalms 12:3-4 On title, see Introduction and see on Ps 6:1. The Psalmist

Boasting (Da 7:25) is, like flattery, a species of lying. lips, and ... tongue--for persons.

Psalms 12:5 On title, see Introduction and see on Ps 6:1. The Psalmist

The writer intimates his confidence by depicting God's actions (compare Ps 9:19; 10:12) as coming to save the poor at whom the wicked sneer (Ps 10:5).

Psalms 12:6 On title, see Introduction and see on Ps 6:1. The Psalmist

The words--literally, "saying of" (Ps 12:5). seven times--thoroughly (Da 3:19).

Psalms 12:7 On title, see Introduction and see on Ps 6:1. The Psalmist

them--(Margin.)

Psalms 12:8 On title, see Introduction and see on Ps 6:1. The Psalmist

The wicked roam undisturbed doing evil, when vileness and vile men are exalted. PSALM 13

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Key Words and Topics

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Related Topics

Being Pure Psalm 12:6

The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

Church: Backslidden Psalm 12:1

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

Faithfulness: Exhortation To Psalm 12:1

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

Furnace of Affliction Psalm 12:6

The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

God: Preserver Psalm 12:7

You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.

Inerrancy Psalm 12:6

The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold.

Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 12:3, 4

May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue. / They say, “With our tongues we will prevail. We own our lips—who can be our master?”

Injustice: God: Provoked to Avenge Psalm 12:5

“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

Intercession: Exemplified Psalm 12:1

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

Music: Sheminith in the Titles of Psalm 12:1

For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.

Needy Psalm 12:5

“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

Poor: God's Care of Psalm 12:5

“For the cause of the oppressed and for the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will bring safety to him who yearns.”

Preservation Psalm 12:6, 7

The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace, like gold purified sevenfold. / You, O LORD, will keep us; You will forever guard us from this generation.

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Bible Dictionary

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Generation Gen. 2:4, "These are the generations," means the "history." 5:1,… Sheminith Eight; octave, a musical term, supposed to denote the lowest… Faithful As a designation of Christians, means full of faith, trustful,… Furnace (1.) Chald. attun, a large furnace with a wide open… Silver Used for a great variety of purposes, as may be… Guard (1.) Heb. tabbah (properly a "cook," and in a secondary… Heart According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not… David Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen… Lord There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered. (1.)… Gold (1.) Heb. zahab, so called from its yellow colour (Ex.…