Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 12:2

"They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak." — Psalms 12:2 (ASV)

Vanity. —So in Psalms 41:6 and Job 35:13. Literally, evil. “Falsehood” would be better. This verse may have been in St Paul’s mind (Ephesians 4:25).

Flattering lips. —Literally, lips of smoothness, (Compare the note on Psalms 5:9.)

With a double heart. —Literally, with a heart and a heart. (Compare 1 Chronicles 12:33.) “One for the Church, another for the Change; one for Sundays, another for working days; one for the king, another for the Pope. A man without a heart is a wonder, but a man with two hearts is a monster.” — Thomas Adams, A.D. 1614.