Psalms 12:2

“They speak vanity everyone with his neighbour, etc.] That which is false and a lie, either doctrinal or practical; what was not according to the word of God, and was vain and empty, frothy, filthy, and corrupt; and which no godly and faithful man would do. And this being done in common, by the generality of men, one with another, shows the degeneracy of the age, and supports the complaint before made. They speak even [with] flattering lips; as Cain did to Abel, Joab to Amasa, the Herodians to Christ, Judas to his Master, false teachers to those that are simple, hypocrites to God himself, when they draw nigh to him only with their lips, and all formal professors to the churches of Christ,…”

“The want of it is illustrated by the prevalence of deceit and instability.”

“They speak vanity - This is a statement of the “manner” in which the “godly” and the “faithful” fail, as stated in Psalms 12:1. One of the ways was that there was a disregard of truth; that no confidence could be placed on the statements of those who professed to be pious; that they dealt falsely with their neighbors. The word “vanity” here is equivalent to “falsehood.” What they spoke was a vain and empty thing, instead of being the truth. It had no reality, and could not be depended on. Every one with his neighbour - In his statements and promises. No reliance could be placed on his word. With flattering lips - Hebrew, “Lips of smoothness.” The verb from which the word used here is derived…”

“They: Psa 10:7, Psa 36:3, Psa 36:4, Psa 38:12, Psa 41:6, Psa 52:1-4, Psa 59:12, Psa 144:8, Psa 144:11; Jer 9:2-6, Jer 9:8 flattering: Psa 5:9, Psa 28:3, Psa 62:4; Pro 20:19, Pro 29:5; Eze 12:24; Rom 16:18; Th1 2:5 a double heart: Heb. an heart and an heart, Ch1 12:33 \*marg. Jam 1:8 Psalms 12:3”