Psalms 12:3

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,

Psalms 12:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 12:3

The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips
This is either a prophecy or a prayer, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi observe; that God either would or should cut off such who used flattery with their lips, by inflicting some judgment in this life, or everlasting punishment hereafter; by taking them away by death "out of the world", as the Targum paraphrases it; or by casting them into hell, where all liars and deceitful persons will have their portion; see ( Job 32:21 Job 32:22 ) ;

[and] the tongue that speaketh proud things,
or "great things" F6, as the little horn, ( Daniel 7:20 Daniel 7:25 ) ; and the beast, or Romish antichrist, who is designed by both, ( Revelation 13:5 Revelation 13:6 ) ; and which will be accomplished when Christ shall destroy him with the breath of his mouth, and the brightness of his coming; and indeed every tongue that riseth up against God, Christ, and his people, will be condemned; when ungodly sinners will be convinced of all their hard speeches, ( Isaiah 54:17 ) ( Jude 1:15 ) . Perhaps some regard may be had to the tongue of Doeg the Edomite; see ( Psalms 52:3-5 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (twldg) "magna", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis; "grandia", Cocceius.

Psalms 12:3 In-Context

1 To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for there is no longer any that is godly; for the faithful have vanished from among the sons of men.
2 Every one utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is our master?"
5 "Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now arise," says the LORD; "I will place him in the safety for which he longs."
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.