Psalm 12 (KJV)

The text, King James Version

1. 1Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
2. 2They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
3. 3The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4. 4Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
5. 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.
6. 6The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7. 7Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
8. 8The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.

Summary of the chapter

From Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary.

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…