Commentary on Psalms Volume 1 John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
mere dross in their own brain, by which to efface or obscure the brightness which shines in the word of God. The word,בעלילbaälil, which we have translated crucible, is interpreted by many prince, or lord, as if it were a simple word. According to them, the meaning would be, that the word of God is like the purest silver, from which the dross has been completely removed with the greatest art and care, not for common use, but for the service of a great lord or prince of some country. I, however, rather agree with others who consider that,בעלילbaälil, is a word compounded of the letter,בbeth, which signifies in, and the noun,עלילalil, which signifies a clean or well polished vessel or crucible.
Psalm 12:7-8
7. Thou, O Jehovah, wilt keep them; thou wilt preserve him from this generation for ever. 8. The ungodly walk about on every side; when they are exalted, there is reproach to the children of men.
7. Thou, O Jehovah. Some think that the language of the Psalmist here is that of renewed prayer; and they, therefore, understand the words as expressive of his desire, and translate them in the optative mood, thus, Do thou, O Jehovah, keep them 266 But I am rather of opinion that David, animated with holy confidence, boasts of the certain safety of all the godly, of whom God, who neither can deceive nor lie, avows himself to be the guardian. At the same time, I do not altogether disapprove of the interpretation which views David as renewing his supplications at the throne of grace. Some give this exposition of the passage, Thou wilt keep them, namely, thy words; 267 but this does not seem to me to be suitable. 268 David, I have no doubt, returns to speak of the poor, of whom he had spoken in the preceding part of the psalm. With respect to his changing the number, (for, he says first, Thou wilt keep them, and, next, Thou wilt preserve him
"Que tu les gardes, Seigneur." — Fr.
This is the view adopted by Hammond. He refers the them to the words of the Lord mentioned in the preceding verse, and the him following to the godly, or just man, and explains the verse thus: "Thou, O Lord, shalt keep, or perform, those words, thou shalt preserve the just man from this generation for ever." The Chaldee version reads, "Thou wilt keep the just;" the Septuagint, Vulgate, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, "Thou wilt keep us;"
"Mais quant a ceux qui elisent, Tu les garderas, as avoir Tes paroles; l'exposition ne me semble pas propre." — Fr.