Psalms 12 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

XII. A Prayer of Faithful Jews against the Arrogant Tongue of the Ungodly.

Psalms 12:1-4. The godly man ceaseth (see Psalms 4:1-5). The wicked acknowledge no responsibility for their words: they say, To our tongues we give might, i.e. free rein.

Psalms 12:5-8. Yahweh declares His intention of rising in defence of the poor and needy. Here the author quotes (unless the identity of the words be mere coincidence) Isaiah 33:10. He relies on a Divine promise there given, to which he now (Psalms 12:5 b) appeals. Well may he rely on the promise, for Yahweh's words are like silver purified from dross seven times over. The Ps. must be very late, if it really quotes Isaiah 33* as Scripture, for that chapter probably belongs to the second century B.C.

Psalms 12:6. furnace on the earth: the words are of unknown meaning.