They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Psalm 12:2 explains why David cried, “Help, LORD” (v.1). The godly man ceaseth, and the faithful fail from among the children of men (v.1). One clear mark of that collapse is corrupt speech. When faithful men fail, faithful words fail with them. Truth is replaced by vanity, plain dealing by flattery, and integrity by a double heart.
“They.” David now describes the kind of men who make his cry necessary. These are not the godly and faithful of verse 1, but the opposite sort. They belong to the moral decline around him. Their speech reveals them. A generation is not only measured by its laws, wealth, power, or outward religion, but by its words. When men commonly speak vanity, flatter with their lips, and speak with a double heart, the times are evil.
“Speak.” The verse begins with speech and ends with speech: “They speak… do they speak.” This repetition fits the burden of the psalm. Psalm 12 is filled with words. Men speak vanity (v.2), use flattering lips (v.2), speak proud things (v.3), and boast that their tongues will prevail (v.4). In answer, the LORD speaks of arising for the poor and needy (v.5), and His words are pure words (v.6). The great contrast in the psalm is between the corrupt words of men and the pure words of Jehovah.
“Vanity.” Their words are empty, false, worthless, and without profit before God. Vanity speech may not always sound foolish to men. It may be clever, pleasant, popular, persuasive, or religious; but it is vain if it lacks truth, righteousness, and the fear of God. Psalm 41:6 says of an enemy, “And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.” The mouth may sound harmless while the heart gathers sin.
Vanity also includes speech that treats worthless things as weighty and weighty things as worthless. Men speak at length of profit, pleasure, fashion, reputation, politics, advantage, grievance, and entertainment, while God, truth, death, judgment, holiness, and mercy are ignored. Words become vain when they are cut loose from God’s rule and God’s glory. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,” Paul wrote, “but that which is good to the use of edifying” (Ephesians 4:29).
“Every one with his neighbour.” The corruption is widespread and social. David is not describing one liar in a corner, but a common manner of dealing among men. Neighbour speaks of ordinary relations: men speaking with those near them, trading with them, visiting with them, counselling them, promising them, and reporting to them. When men speak vanity with their neighbour, trust breaks down in daily life.
This is a serious evil because God commands truth between neighbours. “Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another” (Leviticus 19:11). “These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates” (Zechariah 8:16). Paul repeats the same duty for saints: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour” (Ephesians 4:25). Psalm 12:2 shows the opposite condition: neighbourly speech filled with vanity instead of truth.
“With flattering lips.” The lips are named for the words formed by them. Flattery is speech designed to please, soften, win, manipulate, or conceal, rather than to tell the truth in the fear of God. It often praises what should be corrected, smooths what should be exposed, and speaks kindly for advantage rather than faithfully for righteousness. “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet” (Proverbs 29:5).
Flattery is dangerous because it often appears loving. It may sound gentle, respectful, encouraging, or wise. But if it hides truth to gain favour, avoid conflict, secure advantage, or protect a double heart, it is wicked. “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin” (Proverbs 26:28). Faithful wounds are better than deceitful kisses, for open rebuke is better than secret love (Proverbs 27:5-6).
Flattering lips are especially dangerous in religion. False teachers use good words and fair speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16:18). Some speak swelling words while having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage (Jude 1:16). A preacher, counsellor, friend, or brother who flatters sin instead of warning against it is not loving the soul. He is serving corruption with his lips.
“And with a double heart.” Here David reaches beneath the lips to the source. The problem is not the lips alone, but the heart behind them. A double heart is a divided, false, and dishonest heart. It presents one thing outwardly while holding another inwardly. It smiles while plotting, praises while envying, promises while planning escape, agrees while resisting, and speaks peace while hiding war.
This is why flattering speech is so hateful. It joins pleasant words to a false heart. Jeremiah described such corruption: “And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity” (Jeremiah 9:5). Again, “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” (Jeremiah 9:8). Psalm 12:2 names the same evil in few words.
The opposite of a double heart is an upright and united heart before God. David prayed, “Unite my heart to fear thy name” (Psalm 86:11). The early disciples continued with gladness and singleness of heart (Acts 2:46). Servants are commanded to obey with singleness of heart, as unto Christ (Ephesians 6:5). A double heart cannot speak straight words for long, because the mouth eventually follows what the heart is.
“Do they speak.” The verse closes by returning to speech. David does not allow a man to separate his words from his heart. Vanity comes from within. Flattery comes from within. Double speech comes from a double heart. Jesus taught that evil things proceed out of the heart and defile the man (Matthew 15:18-20). Therefore, speech must be judged spiritually, not only socially.
Verse 3 gives the LORD’s answer: “The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.” God does not treat these words as small faults. He will judge flattering lips. He will cut off proud tongues. The wicked may think their tongue will prevail and their lips are their own (v.4), but Jehovah is Lord over every word. Jesus warned that men shall give account in the day of judgment for every idle word they shall speak (Matthew 12:36-37).
The contrast in verse 6 is glorious. Man’s words in verse 2 are vanity, flattery, and double-heartedness; “The words of the LORD are pure words” (v.6). Men speak to mislead; God speaks truth. Men speak from divided hearts; God speaks from perfect holiness. Men use words for advantage; God gives words for life, warning, comfort, doctrine, and salvation. The saint must learn which words to trust.
This verse calls for sober self-examination. Do I speak vanity with my neighbour? Do I flatter when I should speak truth? Do I use pleasant words to hide a divided heart? Do I say one thing to a man’s face and another elsewhere? Do my lips outrun my integrity? God hates a lying tongue, a false witness, and one that soweth discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19). He also delights in truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6).
The righteous should seek speech opposite to Psalm 12:2. Let words be true, profitable, timely, faithful, and governed by the fear of God. Let lips refuse flattery even when truth costs more. Let the heart be single before God, so the mouth need not manage lies. “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22).
Jesus Christ is the perfect contrast to the men of this verse. No vanity, flattery, or double heart ever governed His words. His enemies tried to entangle Him in His talk, yet could not (Matthew 22:15-22). They said, even while tempting Him, “Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth” (Matthew 22:16). No guile was found in His mouth (1 Peter 2:22). His words were truth, because His heart was wholly set to do the Father’s will.
Psalm 12:2 therefore marks a corrupt generation by corrupt speech. Men speak vanity with their neighbours, flatter with their lips, and speak from a double heart. Such words explain why the godly cry for help. Yet the psalm does not end with man’s words. The LORD arises, the LORD speaks, and the words of the LORD are pure. Let every saint reject vanity, refuse flattery, cleanse the heart before God, and trust the pure words Jehovah has preserved.
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Psalm 12:2 explains why David cried, “Help, LORD” (v.1). The godly man ceaseth, and the faithful fail from among the children of men (v.1). One clear mark of that collapse is corrupt speech. When faithful men fail, faithful words fail with them. Truth is replaced by vanity, plain dealing by flattery, and integrity by a double heart.
“They.” David now describes the kind of men who make his cry necessary. These are not the godly and faithful of verse 1, but the opposite sort. They belong to the moral decline around him. Their speech reveals them. A generation is not only measured by its laws, wealth, power, or outward religion, but by its words. When men commonly speak vanity, flatter with their lips, and speak with a double heart, the times are evil.
“Speak.” The verse begins with speech and ends with speech: “They speak… do they speak.” This repetition fits the burden of the psalm. Psalm 12 is filled with words. Men speak vanity (v.2), use flattering lips (v.2), speak proud things (v.3), and boast that their tongues will prevail (v.4). In answer, the LORD speaks of arising for the poor and needy (v.5), and His words are pure words (v.6). The great contrast in the psalm is between the corrupt words of men and the pure words of Jehovah.
“Vanity.” Their words are empty, false, worthless, and without profit before God. Vanity speech may not always sound foolish to men. It may be clever, pleasant, popular, persuasive, or religious; but it is vain if it lacks truth, righteousness, and the fear of God. Psalm 41:6 says of an enemy, “And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.” The mouth may sound harmless while the heart gathers sin.
Vanity also includes speech that treats worthless things as weighty and weighty things as worthless. Men speak at length of profit, pleasure, fashion, reputation, politics, advantage, grievance, and entertainment, while God, truth, death, judgment, holiness, and mercy are ignored. Words become vain when they are cut loose from God’s rule and God’s glory. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,” Paul wrote, “but that which is good to the use of edifying” (Ephesians 4:29).
“Every one with his neighbour.” The corruption is widespread and social. David is not describing one liar in a corner, but a common manner of dealing among men. Neighbour speaks of ordinary relations: men speaking with those near them, trading with them, visiting with them, counselling them, promising them, and reporting to them. When men speak vanity with their neighbour, trust breaks down in daily life.
This is a serious evil because God commands truth between neighbours. “Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another” (Leviticus 19:11). “These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates” (Zechariah 8:16). Paul repeats the same duty for saints: “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour” (Ephesians 4:25). Psalm 12:2 shows the opposite condition: neighbourly speech filled with vanity instead of truth.
“With flattering lips.” The lips are named for the words formed by them. Flattery is speech designed to please, soften, win, manipulate, or conceal, rather than to tell the truth in the fear of God. It often praises what should be corrected, smooths what should be exposed, and speaks kindly for advantage rather than faithfully for righteousness. “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet” (Proverbs 29:5).
Flattery is dangerous because it often appears loving. It may sound gentle, respectful, encouraging, or wise. But if it hides truth to gain favour, avoid conflict, secure advantage, or protect a double heart, it is wicked. “A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin” (Proverbs 26:28). Faithful wounds are better than deceitful kisses, for open rebuke is better than secret love (Proverbs 27:5-6).
Flattering lips are especially dangerous in religion. False teachers use good words and fair speeches to deceive the hearts of the simple (Romans 16:18). Some speak swelling words while having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage (Jude 1:16). A preacher, counsellor, friend, or brother who flatters sin instead of warning against it is not loving the soul. He is serving corruption with his lips.
“And with a double heart.” Here David reaches beneath the lips to the source. The problem is not the lips alone, but the heart behind them. A double heart is a divided, false, and dishonest heart. It presents one thing outwardly while holding another inwardly. It smiles while plotting, praises while envying, promises while planning escape, agrees while resisting, and speaks peace while hiding war.
This is why flattering speech is so hateful. It joins pleasant words to a false heart. Jeremiah described such corruption: “And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity” (Jeremiah 9:5). Again, “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” (Jeremiah 9:8). Psalm 12:2 names the same evil in few words.
The opposite of a double heart is an upright and united heart before God. David prayed, “Unite my heart to fear thy name” (Psalm 86:11). The early disciples continued with gladness and singleness of heart (Acts 2:46). Servants are commanded to obey with singleness of heart, as unto Christ (Ephesians 6:5). A double heart cannot speak straight words for long, because the mouth eventually follows what the heart is.
“Do they speak.” The verse closes by returning to speech. David does not allow a man to separate his words from his heart. Vanity comes from within. Flattery comes from within. Double speech comes from a double heart. Jesus taught that evil things proceed out of the heart and defile the man (Matthew 15:18-20). Therefore, speech must be judged spiritually, not only socially.
Verse 3 gives the LORD’s answer: “The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things.” God does not treat these words as small faults. He will judge flattering lips. He will cut off proud tongues. The wicked may think their tongue will prevail and their lips are their own (v.4), but Jehovah is Lord over every word. Jesus warned that men shall give account in the day of judgment for every idle word they shall speak (Matthew 12:36-37).
The contrast in verse 6 is glorious. Man’s words in verse 2 are vanity, flattery, and double-heartedness; “The words of the LORD are pure words” (v.6). Men speak to mislead; God speaks truth. Men speak from divided hearts; God speaks from perfect holiness. Men use words for advantage; God gives words for life, warning, comfort, doctrine, and salvation. The saint must learn which words to trust.
This verse calls for sober self-examination. Do I speak vanity with my neighbour? Do I flatter when I should speak truth? Do I use pleasant words to hide a divided heart? Do I say one thing to a man’s face and another elsewhere? Do my lips outrun my integrity? God hates a lying tongue, a false witness, and one that soweth discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:16-19). He also delights in truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6).
The righteous should seek speech opposite to Psalm 12:2. Let words be true, profitable, timely, faithful, and governed by the fear of God. Let lips refuse flattery even when truth costs more. Let the heart be single before God, so the mouth need not manage lies. “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22).
Jesus Christ is the perfect contrast to the men of this verse. No vanity, flattery, or double heart ever governed His words. His enemies tried to entangle Him in His talk, yet could not (Matthew 22:15-22). They said, even while tempting Him, “Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth” (Matthew 22:16). No guile was found in His mouth (1 Peter 2:22). His words were truth, because His heart was wholly set to do the Father’s will.
Psalm 12:2 therefore marks a corrupt generation by corrupt speech. Men speak vanity with their neighbours, flatter with their lips, and speak from a double heart. Such words explain why the godly cry for help. Yet the psalm does not end with man’s words. The LORD arises, the LORD speaks, and the words of the LORD are pure. Let every saint reject vanity, refuse flattery, cleanse the heart before God, and trust the pure words Jehovah has preserved.