A Prayer of David
Psalm 12:1-8
Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.…


to God, to save and help him, and keep him from the deceits and contagion of the wicked, of which the world is too full.

1. A prayer, and the reasons of it (vers. 1, 2). The petition is brief and jaculatory, for he breaks upon God with one word — Help, or Save. Of which he gives two reasons —

(1)  The penury and scarcity of good men.

(2)  The great abundance of the wicked, and the licentious times.

2. A prophecy of the fall of the wicked, whose arrogance he describes (ver. 4). The prophecy shows what shall be the end of their dissembling.

3. God's answer to David's petition. Is it so that the wicked are thus numerous, thus tyrannous, so proud, so arrogant, then "I will arise"; "I will not delay"; "I will set him in safety." That which moveth Me is his pitiful condition, his sighs and groans. Of this let no man doubt. In God's words there is no fallacy.

4. A petitiory conclusion. "Keep them, O Lord." Without God keep them, they will be infected. Keep them from this generation. For there be a generation of vipers. And ever make them persevere; for without Thy aid they will fall.

(William Nicholson, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: {To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.} Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

WEB: Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.




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