May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue.
When the godly cease and the faithful fail, the times are truly bad, not for want of money or trade, but because wickedness abounds and honest men are scarce. These deceivers speak with flattery on one side and malice on the other, their words smooth but their hearts divided against truth.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 12:1-8
Total destruction shall overwhelm the lovers of flattery and pride, but meanwhile how they hector and fume! Well did the apostle call them "raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame." Free-thinkers are generally very free-talkers, and they are never more at ease than when railing at God's dominion, and arrogating to themselves unbounded license.
Commenting on Psalm 12:3
Bad times come not chiefly from scarcity or war, but from the decay of piety and honesty among men. Godly men are faithful men; their word binds as firmly as an oath. When such men cease or fail, whether by death or desertion, the times grow truly dark.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 12:1-8