Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 12:8

8. The wicked walk on every side , when the vilest men are exalted.

Which Phrase may note 1. their great numbers, they fill all places. 2. Their Freedom and Safety, they are not restrained nor punished, but go about boldly and securely whither they please. 3. Their Proficiency and Success, which is sometimes signified by this Verb, as Gen. 26. 13. 1. Sam. 2. 21. Isa. 40. 31. They grow worse and worse, and prosper in and by their Wickedness. 4 Their uncessant and unwearied Industry in doing Mischief to good men. Comp. 1. Pet. 5. 8. And this is very fitly here added as another Argument to prevail with God to arise to help his poor people who are oppressed by wicked men.

Heb. Vilenesses, (i. e.) all manner of wickedness, lying and slandering, profaneness, oppression, cruelty and the like: Or, vile persons, the abstract being put for the concrete, which is frequent, as pride Psal. 36. 11. for a proud man, and many such like. Both comes to one, vile Persons, and vile practises were both advanced and incouraged through Saul's Misgovernment, whereby all the foundations were destroyed, as he complained, Psal. 11. 3. The Hebrew word zolel (whence this zuloth comes) signifies first a glutton, or drunkard, as Deut. 21. 20. Prov. 23. 21. and thence any vile person, as Ier. 15. 19. Lament. 1. 11.

Marginal references: Heb. the vil [illegible: 1+ letters] of the sons of [illegible: 1 word] are exalted.