1.
Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
upon Sheminith = the Sheminith. See App-65 .
Title. A Psalm. See App-65 .
Help = Save.
godly man = "gracious [man]".
ceaseth = is no more. Compare Isaiah 57:1 .Micah 7:2 .
faithful. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , put for faithful men.
children of men = sons of men. (Hebrew ' adam . App-14 .)
2.
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
They speak. Man's words contrasted with Jehovah's words. Compare Psalms 12:6 , and see Structure above.
double = deceitful. Hebrew "a heart and a heart". Compare 1 Chronicles 12:33 .
3.
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
The tongue, &c. Quoted in James 3:5 .
4.
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
With our tongue will we prevail = Thanks to our tongue, we will prevail.
5.
For 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.
poor = wretched. Hebrew ' ain . See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
saith the LORD = let Jehovah say.
from him that puffeth at him = let him [the oppressed] despise it [the oppression],
him = it: i.e. the oppression.
6.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
words = the spoken words, sayings, or utterances. Compare Psalms 119:38 .
silver tried: i.e. pure silver.
furnace = crucible. Put a full stop after this word.
of = to, or pertaining to (referring to the "words"). The letter lamed is the sign of the Dative case, not the Genitive.
earth. Hebrew. 'erez (the earth), not 'adamah (the ground): i.e. "words for, or pertaining to the earth", but purified seven times: i.e. with spiritual perfection (see App-10 ). Some are used with a higher meaning; some in a different sense. Psalms 12:6 is an alternation.
Purified. The verb is singular, agreeing with silver. The words of Jehovah are pure words. As silver tried in a furnace: [Words] pertaining to the earth: Purified seven times.
7.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
them: i.e. the godly. Plural reference to "the faithful" of Psalms 12:1 .
them = him: refers to the man of grace (Psalms 12:1 ).
8.
The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.
wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .
men: i.e. the sons of Adam, as in Psalms 12:1 .
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .
Title. A Psalm. See App-65 .