1 David praises God for his all-seeing providence
17 And for this infinite mercies
19 He defies the wicked
23 He prays for sincerity

A.M. 2956, B.C. 1048. A Psalm. This Psalm is supposed to have been composed by David when made king of Israel; though some think it was written by him when accused of traitorous designs against Saul. It is a most sublime ode on the wisdom, knowledge, presence, and justice of God; the sentiments are grand, the style highly elevated, and the images various, beautiful, and impressive.

thou hast Ps 139:23 11:4,5 17:3 44:21 1Ki 8:39 1Ch 28:9 Jer 12:3 17:9,10 Joh 21:17 Heb 4:13 Re 2:18,23

2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

knowest Ps 56:8 Ge 16:13 2Ki 6:12 19:27 Pr 15:3 Isa 37:28 Zec 4:10

understandest Ps 94:11 Mt 9:4 Lu 9:47 Joh 2:24,25 1Co 4:5

afar off Eze 38:10,11,17

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

compassest. or, winnowest Job 13:26,27 14:16,17 31:4 Mt 3:12

my path Ps 139:18 121:3-8 Ge 28:10-17 2Sa 8:14 11:2-5,27

and art acquainted 2Sa 12:9-12 Pr 5:20,21 Ec 12:14 Isa 29:15 Jer 23:24 Joh 6:70,71 13:2,21 Ac 5:3,4

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

there is not Ps 19:14 Job 8:2 38:2 42:3,6-8 Zep 1:12 Mal 3:13-16 Mt 12:35-37 Jas 1:26 3:2-10

thou knowest Ps 50:19-21 Jer 29:23 Heb 4:12,13

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

beset me De 33:27 Job 23:8,9

and laid Ex 24:11 Re 1:17

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

knowledge Ps 40:5 13:1 Job 11:7-9 26:14 42:3 Pr 30:2-4 Ro 11:33

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

Jer 23:23,24 Jon 1:3,10 Ac 5:9

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

I ascend Eze 28:12-17 Am 9:2-4 Ob 1:4

in hell Job 26:6 34:21,22 Pr 15:11 Jon 2:2

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

If I take. Light has been proved, by many experiments, to travel at the astonishing rate of 194,188 miles in one second of time; and comes from the sun to the earth, a distance of 95,513,794 miles in 8 minutes and nearly 12 seconds! But, could I even fly upon the wings or rays of the morning light, which diffuses itself with such velocity over the globe from east to west, instead of being beyond Thy reach, or by this sudden transition be able to escape thy notice. Thy arm could still at pleasure prevent or arrest my progress, and I should still be encircled with the immensity of Thy essence. The sentiment in this noble passage is remarkably striking and the description truly sublime.

the wings Ps 18:10 19:6 Mal 4:2

dwell Ps 74:16,17 Isa 24:14-16

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Ps 63:8 73:23 143:9,10 Isa 41:13

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

surely Ps 10:11-13 94:7 Job 22:12-14 Isa 29:15 Jer 23:24

even the night Job 12:22

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

the darkness Ex 14:20 20:21 Job 26:6 34:22 Da 2:22 Heb 4:13

hideth not. Heb. darkeneth not
the darkness, etc. Heb. as is the darkness, so is the light.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

for thou Job 10:9-12

covered me Ps 22:9,10 71:6 Job 31:15 Isa 44:2 46:3 Jer 1:5

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

for I am fearfully Ge 1:26,27

marvellous Ps 92:4,5 104:24 111:2 Job 5:9 Re 15:3

right well. Heb. greatly

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

substance. or strength or body
when I Ps 139:13 Job 10:9-11 Ex 11:5

in the lowest Ps 63:9 Eph 4:9

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

in thy book Ps 56:8 Mal 3:16 Re 20:12

all my members. Heb. all of them
which in continuance were fashioned. or, what days they should be fashioned

17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

precious Ps 40:5 Pr 8:31 Isa 55:8,9 Jer 29:11 Eph 3:9,10

how great Ps 31:19 36:7

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

they are more Ps 40:12

when I awake Ps 139:3 3:5 16:8-11 17:15 63:6,7 Isa 26:19 Da 12:2 1Th 5:10

19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

surely Ps 5:6 9:17 55:23 64:7 94:23 Isa 11:4

depart from Ps 6:8 119:115 Mt 7:23 25:41 2Co 6:17

20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

for they speak Ps 73:8,9 74:18,22,23 Job 21:14,15 Isa 37:23,28,29 Jude 1:15 Re 13:6

thine Ps 2:1-3 Ex 20:7

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

do not I Ps 15:4 31:6 2Ch 19:2 Re 2:2,6

and am not Ps 119:136,158 Jer 13:17 Mr 3:5 Lu 19:41 Ro 9:1-3

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

hate them Ps 101:3-8 Lu 14:26

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

search me Ps 139:1 26:2

know De 8:2,16 Job 31:6 Pr 17:3 Zec 13:9 Mal 3:2,3 1Pe 1:7

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

and see Ps 7:3,4 17:3 Pr 28:26 Jer 17:9,10

wicked way. Heb. way of pain, or grief Heb 12:15,16

and lead Ps 5:8 25:8,9 119:1,32 143:8,10

the way Mt 7:14 Joh 14:6 Col 2:6