1.
Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
1. the faithful—or literally,
"faithfulness" ().
2.
They 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.
3.
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
3, 4. Boasting () is, like flattery, a species of lying.
lips, and . . . tongue—for
persons.
4.
Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
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.
5. The writer intimates his
confidence by depicting God's actions (compare Psalms 9:19;
Psalms 10:12) as coming to save the
poor at whom the wicked sneer (Psalms 10:12).
6.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
6. The words—literally,
"saying of" (Psalms 12:5).
seven times—thoroughly
(Daniel 3:19).
7.
Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
7. them—(Margin.)
8.
The 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.