Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 12:4

"Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?" — Psalms 12:4 (ASV)

With our tongue. —This is the proud saying just mentioned, and is plainly a boast of the power possessed by those who have the ear of persons in authority, and can adroitly “make the worse appear the better cause”; or being themselves in high places, can, like Angelo in Measure for Measure, defy the accusations of their victims:—

“Who will believe you, Isabel?
My place in the State
Will so your accusation overweigh
That you shall stifle in your own report,
And smell of calumny.”

But there is great difference of opinion as to the proper rendering, “with our tongues will we prevail.” Some render, “we are masters of our tongues”; others, “with our tongues we confederate”: i.e., “our tongues are our allies.” The last rendering agrees best with the next clause.

Our lips are our own. —Literally, are with us: i.e., on our side. (Compare to 2 Kings 9:32).