Fathers

Psalms 12

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Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men. Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart. May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts, who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail. Our lips are our own. Who is lord over us?” “Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,” says Yahweh; “I will set him in safety from those who malign him.” Yahweh’s words are flawless words, as silver refined in a clay furnace, purified seven times. You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever. The wicked walk on every side, when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 12:8

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"The ungodly walk in a circle round about" [Psalm 12:8]: that is, in the desire of things temporal, which revolves as a wheel in a repeated circle of seven days; and therefore they do not arrive at the eighth, that is, at eternity, for which this Psalm is entitled. …

Exposition on Psalm 12 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"Therefore the wicked walk round about," so that they never reach the end of the journey they intend, namely to afflict others as they wish. Is. 59: "Their paths are crooked." And why? "Because according to your height you have multiplied the children of men"; because in my house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but wooden and earthen ones; and some indeed are sanctified unto honor, prepared for every good work. 2 Tim. 2. Or "round about," in the circuit of vices, "the wicked walk," not reaching the mean of virtue. 1 Sam. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗