John Calvin Commentary Psalms 62:9

"Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: In the balances they will go up; They are together lighter than vanity." — Psalms 62:9 (ASV)

Nevertheless, the sons of Adam are vanity. If we take the particle אך, ach, affirmatively, as meaning surely or certainly, then this verse contains a confirmation of the truth expressed in the preceding verse; and David argues by contrast, that as men are lighter than vanity, we are constrained to place all our expectation upon God.

It would agree well, however, with the contrast to suppose that, under an impression of the little effect which the truth he had announced was calculated to have upon the people (ever disposed to build upon fallacious hopes), he exclaims, with a degree of holy fervor, Nevertheless, etc. According to this view, he is here rebuking the blind infidelity so prevalent among men, which leads them to deceive themselves with lying vanities rather than trust in the infallible promises of Jehovah.

Having had occasion to discover such a large amount of vanity in the chosen seed of Abraham, he does not hesitate to speak of the whole human family in general as being abandoned to lying delusions. The adverb יחד, yachad, together, indicates that all, without exception, are ready to find an occasion of turning aside.

Such is the sweeping condemnation passed, not upon a few individuals, but upon human nature, declaring men to be lighter than vanity; and may we not ask what in this case becomes of boasted reason, wisdom, and free-will? It is useless to object that believers are delivered from the deceit which is here condemned.

If they owe their exemption from lying and vanity to the regeneration of the Spirit, this concedes that they were subject to these in their natural state. The first man was created by God upright, but by his fall drew us into such a depth of corruption that any light originally bestowed has been totally obscured.

If it is alleged that there still remain in man such gifts of God as are not to be despised, and as distinguish him from all the other creatures, this is easily answered by remembering that, however great these may be, he is tainted by sin and therefore of no account.

It is only when allied with the knowledge of God that any of the endowments given to us from above can be said to have a real excellence. Apart from this, they are vitiated by that contagion of sin which has not left a vestige in man of his original integrity. Therefore, quite rightly, David could say that all men are vanity and nothingness.