John Gill Commentary Psalms 78:36

"But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied unto him with their tongue." — Psalms 78:36 (ASV)

Nevertheless, they did flatter him with their mouth
In prayer to him, they only drew near to him with their mouths, and honoured him with their lips; they showed much love to him and his ways and ordinances by this; but their hearts were not with him, but after their lusts; they made fine speeches and fair promises, but their hearts and mouths did not agree; they spoke with a double heart, thinking and endeavouring to "deceive" the Lord, as the word ^F2 here used signifies; but he is not to be deceived, nor will he be mocked.

The Targum is, "they allured (or persuaded) him, with their mouth;" they attempted to do so; the Syriac and Arabic versions are, "they loved him with their mouth"; professed great love and sincere affection to him, when they had none:

and they lied unto him with their tongues ;
to lie unto men is bad, but to God is worse; and it is a most vain and foolish thing, since there is not a word in the tongue of any but is known to him.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F2: (whwtpyw) "quamvis conarentur eum decipere", Junius & Tremellius; "attamen decipiebant eum", Cocceius.