Psalm 116 · a question people ask
"All people are liars" (116:11). Did the psalmist mean everyone?
He tells you how he said it: "I said in my haste, “All people are liars.”" (116:11). Psalm 31 has the same Hebrew for I said in my haste: "As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you" (Psalm 31:22), and Psalm 31's notes set the two side by side. Psalm 116 doesn't take the words back or explain them. It sets them down beside "I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.”" (116:10), and its next line is "What will I give to the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" (116:12). Paul writes close words, "let God be found true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4), without naming a psalm for them, and these notes don't say he is quoting this one.
The verses
“I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.” I said in my haste, “All people are liars.” What will I give to the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”
“As for me, I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before your eyes.” Nevertheless you heard the voice of my petitions when I cried to you.”
“May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, “that you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment.””