Psalm 12:3

3 May the LORD cut off all lips that don't mean what they say. May he cut out every tongue that brags.

Psalm 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 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

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

Psalm 12:3 In-Context

1 Help, Lord! Those who do what is right are gone. Those who are faithful have disappeared from the earth.

2 Everyone tells lies to his neighbors. With his lips he praises others, but he doesn't really mean it.

3 May the LORD cut off all lips that don't mean what they say. May he cut out every tongue that brags.

4 They say, "We will win the battle with our tongues. Our lips belong to us. No one else is in charge of us."

5 The LORD says, "The weak are beaten down. Those who are in need groan. So I will stand up to help them. I will keep them safe from those who tell lies about them."