Psalms 12:2

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart do they speak.

They speak {H1696} vanity {H7723} every one {H376} with his neighbour {H7453}: with flattering {H2513} lips {H8193} and with a double {H3820} heart {H3820} do they speak {H1696}.

They all tell lies to each other, flattering with their lips, but speaking from divided hearts.

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.

Commentary

Psalms 12:2 provides a stark description of the societal decay and moral corruption that grieved the psalmist, King David. It paints a picture of widespread insincerity and deceit, where communication is driven by selfish motives rather than truth.

Context

Psalm 12 is a lament, a heartfelt cry to God amidst a world characterized by ungodliness and falsehood. David begins by lamenting the disappearance of the godly and faithful from among mankind (Psalms 12:1). Verse 2 then specifies the nature of this societal corruption: the prevalence of deceptive and untrustworthy speech. This psalm reflects a time when integrity was scarce, and the righteous felt surrounded by the wicked.

Key Themes

  • Pervasive Deceit: The phrase "every one with his neighbour" underscores the widespread nature of dishonesty. It suggests that deceit was not isolated but had permeated common interactions, making genuine trust difficult.
  • Hypocrisy and Insincerity: The verse highlights a profound disconnect between outward words and inner intentions. People speak pleasantly or flatteringly, but their hearts harbor ulterior motives, leading to a breakdown of authentic relationships.
  • The Erosion of Trust: When speech is filled with "vanity" and comes from a "double heart," the very foundation of societal trust crumbles. This creates an environment of suspicion and instability, where words cannot be relied upon.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Vanity" (Hebrew: shav - ืฉึธืื•ึฐื): This term denotes emptiness, falsehood, worthlessness, or deceit. It implies speech that is not only untrue but also ultimately meaningless or destructive, lacking substance or integrity. It's often used in the Old Testament to describe idols or empty promises.
  • "Flattering lips" (Hebrew: chalak - ื—ึธืœึธืง): Literally meaning "smooth" or "slippery." This refers to speech that is smooth, enticing, or pleasing to the ear, but is insincere and designed to manipulate or deceive. It's a subtle form of dishonesty.
  • "Double heart" (Hebrew: lev va lev - ืœึตื‘ ื•ึธืœึตื‘): This striking phrase literally means "heart and heart." It signifies a divided heart, a lack of single-mindedness, or profound inconsistency. It speaks to duplicity, hypocrisy, and unreliability, where one's inner intentions are at odds with their spoken words. This concept is echoed in the New Testament's warning against being "double minded" (James 1:8).

Practical Application

Psalms 12:2 serves as a timeless warning and a call to introspection for believers today:

  • Cultivate Discernment: We are called to be discerning about the words we hear, recognizing that not all smooth talk or praise is genuine. Understanding the nature of "flattering lips" helps us guard against manipulation.
  • Practice Integrity in Speech: The verse challenges us to ensure our words align with our hearts. Living with a "double heart" is contrary to God's character and harmful to relationships. Believers are called to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and to let their "yes be yes" and "no be no" (Matthew 5:37).
  • Trust in God's Pure Words: In contrast to the vanity and deceit of human speech, the psalmist finds solace in the pure words of the Lord (Psalms 12:6). This reminds us to anchor our trust in divine truth rather than human promises or flattery.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 16:18

    For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

  • Jeremiah 9:8

    Their tongue [is as] an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: [one] speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

  • Psalms 41:6

    And if he come to see [me], he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; [when] he goeth abroad, he telleth [it].

  • Psalms 10:7

    His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity.

  • Psalms 144:8

    Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand [is] a right hand of falsehood.

  • Psalms 5:9

    For [there is] no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part [is] very wickedness; their throat [is] an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

  • Psalms 28:3

    Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief [is] in their hearts.