EXPOSITION. same man sometimes cozens with smooth PSALM XII. words, sonwtimcs blusters and'talks bi"'. ANOTHER Davidica.l psalm, both according Ver. 4.-Who he.va said, With our t;ngue to the title and to the genera.I opinion of will we prevail ; or, throuah our tongws are critics; said (like Ps. vi.) to be "upon we powerful; i.e. whatever we desixe we can a°<:°mplish through our tongues-by Sheminith "--an expression of uncertain persuasion, or by menace~, or by skill in meaning. It consists of a complaint (rnrs. argument. Success in pleading before courts I, 2), a menace (vers. 3, 4), and a promise of law is, perhaps, included. Our lips aro (vers. 5-8). Metrically, it seems to divide our own; literally, are with u•; i.e. are on itself into four stanzas-the first, second, and our side, are our helpers (" Nobis auxilio et prmsto sunt," Michaelis). Who is lord fourth, of four lines each ; the third, of six over us 1 Who, i.e., can interfere with us lines. There is nothing to mark definitely and impede our action? They do not the time of the composition; bot its position believe in any righteous Judge and Con- in the Psalter, and its general resemblance troller of the world, who can step in to to the psalms which precede, point to the frustrate their plans, upset their designs, -and bring them to ruin (see Pas. x. 4, 11; period of David's residence at the court xiv. I). of Saul. Ver. 5.-For the oppression of the poor, Ver. !.-Help, Lord; rather, Sa'De, Lord, for the sighing of the needy, now will I as in the margin (comp. Pss. XL 9; xxviii. arise, saith the Lord. 'l'he ungodly having 9; Ix. 5, etc.). For the godly man ceaseth. been threatened, a promise of nsei.tance is "Ccasetb," i.e., "ant of the land "-either ma.de to the righteous whom they oppress, 61ain or driven into exile. We must make God declares that, in response to the many allowance for poetic hyperbole. For the calls mnde upon him (Pas. iii. 7; vii. 6; faithful fail from among the children of ix. I 9 ; :,;. 12), he will "now," at last, men (compare, for tll.e 6entiment, Micah vii. "a.rise "-.nterpose on behalf of the op- 2). The writer, for the moment, loses sight pressed, o.n<l deliver them (comp. Ex:od. iii. of the" remna.nt"-the little flock ''-which 7, 8), I will set him in safety from him assuredly remained, and of which he speaks that puffeth at him. Tliis is a possible in vers. 5 and 7. meaning; but it is perhaps better to ren- Ver. 2.-They speak Tanity every one der, with Hengstenberg and Cheyne, "I with his neighbour ; rather, they speal, will place him in the safety for which ho fals,hood (Kay, Cheyne). Contrast the in- sighs," or "pants." junction of the apostle (Eph. iv. 25). With Ver. G.-The words of the Lord aro pore tlattering lips aud with a. double heart do words. There is no base alloy in them: they speak; literally, with lips of emootlmess, therefore they may be trusted. What God and u·ith a heart and a heart do they •peak. promises, he will perform. As silver tried The Authorized Version gives the true in a fume.ea of earth; rather, perhaps, meaning (comp. I Chron. xii. 33). silver assayed in a crucible on earth (Kay). Ver. 3.-The Lord shall cot olf all flatter- Purified seven times ( comp. Pee. xviii. 30; ing lips. The complaint having been made, xix. 8; cxix. 140; Prov. xxx. 5). e. 1hreat follows (comp. Pss. x. 15; xi. 6; Ver. 7.-Thou shalt keep them, 0 Lord. xvii. 13, etc.). The men who flatter with God having promise<l. to set the rigl,teous, their lips, beguiling and cozening their who a.re opprcssct.l, in a place of safety (vcr. victims to get them completely into tlrnir 5), the psalmist is sure that ho will keep power, shall be "cut off" from the congre- them a.nu preserve them from the wicked gation ~~ee Gen. xvii...14; Exod. xii. 15, 19; "generation," which has possession of the Lov. vu. 20, 27; xvu. 10, etc.). And the earth, and bea.re rule in it, always. It is, tongue that speaketh proud things; literally, no doubt, for the granter coneolo.tion and areut thinqs; but proud and lofly boastings encouragement of these unfortunates that u.re intended (comp. Dan. vii. 8, 20). The he dwells on the subject., and adds his owu PB, XII, 1-8.] THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 77
aeeuro.noes to the Divine promise which he "man," ";au goorl men" in" the righteous " hns recorded. Mo.u's faith ie so weo.k that, (p•1~), e.nd the like, unless promiees o.nd o.ssurn.ncee o.re reite- Ver. 8.-The wicked walk on every side. r;itcd, they mo.ke little impression. Thou This can scarcely havo been intended as an shalt preserve them (Hebrew, him) from inclependcnt clause, though gramme.ticallv this generation for ever. The "generation" it ste.nds alone. It is best to supply" while;' is lhnt of the worldly men in powl·r at. the or "though" before "the wicked," as Dr. time, of whom we he.ve heard in Pss. iii. I, Ke.y does, and to transle.te, Th011,qh (or, 2, 6, 7; iv. 2; v. 4--6, 9, 10; vi. 8; vii. I, while) wicked men mare/, to and fro on all 2, 9, 13-16; x. 2-11, 15; xi. 2, 3, 6. sides; i.e. while they have their way, and "For ever" mee.ns "so long 11s they live." control all other men's incomings and out- The substitution of '' him" for "them " in goings, being free themselves. When the this clause is an inete.nce of that genero.li- vilest men are exalted; rather, and fhouyh zo.tion by which a wllole class is summed villainy (n)Sv e:&alteth itself amon!T the son• up in a single iudividuo.1-" o.11 men" in of men.