Psalms 12:2

2 (11-3) They have spoken vain things, every one to his neighbour: with deceitful lips, and with a double heart have they spoken.

Psalms 12:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 12:2

They speak vanity everyone with his neighbour
That which is false and a lie, either doctrinal or practical; what was not according to the word of God, and was vain and empty, frothy, filthy, and corrupt; and which no godly and faithful man would do. And this being done in common, by the generality of men, one with another, shows the degeneracy of the age, and supports the complaint before made. They speak even

[with] flattering lips;
as Cain did to Abel, Joab to Amasa, the Herodians to Christ, Judas to his Master, false teachers to those that are simple, hypocrites to God himself, when they draw nigh to him only with their lips, and all formal professors to the churches of Christ, when they profess themselves to be what they are not. And this is a further proof of the justness of the above complaint;

[and] with a double heart do they speak:
or "with an heart and an heart" F4; such are double minded men, who say one thing, and mean another; their words are not to be depended upon; there is no faithfulness in them. The Chinese F5 reckon a man of "two hearts", as they call him, a very wicked man, and none more remote from honesty.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 (blw blb) "in corde & corde", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Gejerus.
F5 Martin. Sinic. Hist. p. 144. a heart having (dicomuyon nohma) , a double meaning, as Pittacus says, Laert. in Vit. Pittac. l. 1. p. 53.

Psalms 12:2 In-Context

1 (11-1) <Unto the end: for the octave, a psalm for David.> (11-2) Save me, O Lord, for there is now no saint: truths are decayed from among the children of men.
2 (11-3) They have spoken vain things, every one to his neighbour: with deceitful lips, and with a double heart have they spoken.
3 (11-4) May the Lord destroy all deceitful lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.
4 (11-5) Who have said: We will magnify our tongue: our lips are our own: who is Lord over us?
5 (11-6) By reason of the misery of the needy, and the groans of the poor, now will I arise, saith the Lord. I will set him in safety: I will deal confidently in his regard.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.