Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, [and] from a
deceitful tongue.
] Not from such lips, and such a tongue of his own, which David abhorred; though every good man desires to be kept from speaking lies and deceit; nor from the company of those who have such lips and tongues, which he was determined should not dwell with him; but from the malignity of them, from being hurt in his character and reputation by them; God can restrain them, and prevent the ill influence of them when he pleases, ( Psalms 31:20 ) ( Isaiah 54:17 ) . Such were the lips and tongues of Doeg the Edomite, ( Psalms 52:2-4 ) , and of Saul's courtiers, who insinuated to him that David sought his hurt, ( 1 Samuel 24:9 ) ; and of the Scribes and Pharisees, that flattered Christ to his face, and reproached him to the people; and of Judas, that betrayed him with "Hail, master", ( Matthew 26:49 ) ; and of the false witnesses suborned against him; and of false teachers, deceitful workers, that lie in wait to deceive, and, by their good words and fair speeches, do deceive the hearts of the simple; and of antichrist and his followers, who, as they are given up to believe a lie, speak lies in hypocrisy; and of Satan the father of lies, and who is the old serpent, the devil, that deceives the whole world: and to be delivered from the bad effects of such lips and tongues is very desirable.