139:1 David praises God for his all-seeing providence;
139:17 and for his infinite mercies;
139:19 He defies the wicked;
139:23 He prays for sincerity.

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. Verse 1thou hastPsalm 139:23, 11:4, 11:5, 17:3, 44:21; 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chronicles 28:9; Jeremiah 12:3, 17:9, 17:10; John 21:17; Habakkuk 3:1; Revelation 2:18, 2:23ReciprocalGenesis 3:8 - hid; 16:13 - Thou; 18:21 - I will know; Joshua 22:22 - he knoweth; 1 Samuel 20:12 - O Lord; 2 Samuel 7:20 - knowest; 12:9 - to do evil; 1 Kings 14:5 - the Lord; 2 Kings 6:12 - telleth; 19:27 - I know; 1 Chronicles 17:18 - thou knowest; 2 Chronicles 32:31 - to try him; Job 10:7 - Thou knowest; 10:14 - then; 14:16 - thou numberest; 22:14 - General; 23:10 - he knoweth; 31:4 - General; 33:27 - I have sinned; Psalm 1:6 - knoweth; 7:9 - for; 73:11 - is there; 73:23 - Nevertheless; 90:8 - Thou; 94:9 - hear; Proverbs 5:21 - General; Isaiah 29:15 - seek; 48:8 - thine ear; Jeremiah 23:23 - General; Obadiah 1:6 - are the; Matthew 6:4 - seeth; Mark 9:33 - What; Luke 16:15 - God; 19:5 - he looked; John 1:48 - when; 16:19 - Jesus; Acts 15:8 - which; 17:27 - he be; 1 Corinthians 8:3 - is; 1 Thessalonians 2:4 - but God; 1 John 3:20 - and Verse 2knowestPsalm 56:8; Genesis 16:13; 2 Kings 6:12, 19:27; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 37:28; Zechariah 4:10 understandestPsalm 94:11; Matthew 9:4; Luke 9:47; John 2:24, 2:25; 1 Corinthians 4:5 afar offEzekiel 38:10, 38:11, 38:17ReciprocalExodus 14:3 - Pharaoh; Deuteronomy 31:21 - I know; 1 Samuel 16:7 - on the heart; 2 Samuel 12:9 - to do evil; 1 Chronicles 28:9 - the Lord; 2 Chronicles 32:31 - to try him; Job 10:7 - Thou knowest; 22:14 - General; 42:2 - no; Psalm 1:6 - knoweth; 19:12 - secret; 31:6 - hated; 40:9 - thou knowest; 119:151 - near; 138:6 - afar off; 142:3 - then thou; Jeremiah 17:10 - the Lord; 23:25 - heard; Lamentations 3:63 - their sitting; Ezekiel 11:5 - for; 20:32 - that which; Amos 4:13 - and declareth; Matthew 12:25 - Jesus; Mark 2:8 - Why; Luke 5:22 - perceived; 16:15 - God; John 1:48 - when; 6:64 - For; Acts 15:8 - which; 1 Corinthians 8:3 - is; 2 Corinthians 10:5 - every thought; 1 Thessalonians 2:4 - but God; Habakkuk 3:1 - and is Verse 3compassestor, winnowest, Job 13:26, 13:27, 14:16, 14:17, 31:4; Matthew 3:12 my pathPsalm 139:18, 121:3-8; Genesis 28:10-17; 2 Samuel 8:14, 11:2-5, 11:27 and art acquainted12:9-12; Proverbs 5:20, 5:21; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Isaiah 29:15; Jeremiah 23:24; John 6:70, 6:71, 13:2, 13:21; Acts 5:3, 5:4ReciprocalGenesis 31:12 - I have seen; Psalm 119:168 - for all my; Jeremiah 16:17 - General; Ezekiel 11:5 - for; Daniel 5:23 - and whose Verse 4there is notPsalm 19:14; Job 8:2, 38:2, 42:3, 42:6-8; Zephaniah 1:12; Malachi 3:13-16; Matthew 12:35-37; James 1:26, 3:2-10 thou knowestPsalm 50:19-21; Jeremiah 29:23; Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1ReciprocalExodus 14:3 - Pharaoh; Job 37:20 - Shall it; Jeremiah 23:25 - heard; Malachi 3:16 - and the; Acts 5:4 - thou hast Verse 5beset meDeuteronomy 33:27; Job 23:8, 23:9 and laidExodus 24:11; Revelation 1:17

Verse 6knowledgePsalm 40:5, 13:1; Job 11:7-9, 26:14, 42:3; Proverbs 30:2-4; Romans 11:33ReciprocalJob 11:8 - deeper; 37:19 - we; Psalm 71:19 - Thy righteousness; 119:129 - testimonies; 131:1 - high for me; 145:3 - and his greatness is unsearchable; Proverbs 30:18 - too; Ecclesiastes 7:24 - General; Isaiah 40:28 - no searching; Zechariah 4:5 - No; 1 Corinthians 13:9 - General; Ephesians 3:18 - able Verse 7Jeremiah 23:23, 23:24; Jonah 1:3, 1:10; Acts 5:9ReciprocalExodus 20:18 - they removed; Joshua 10:16 - and hid; 1 Kings 8:27 - the heaven; 2 Chronicles 6:18 - heaven; Jeremiah 43:8 - General; Hosea 7:13 - fled; Amos 9:2 - dig; Matthew 2:19 - an Verse 8I ascendEzekiel 28:12-17; Amos 9:2-4; Obadiah 1:4 in hellJob 26:6, 34:21, 34:22; Proverbs 15:11; Jonah 2:2ReciprocalExodus 20:18 - they removed; Job 17:13 - I have made; Psalm 16:10 - my; Jeremiah 51:53 - mount; Ezekiel 32:25 - set her Verse 9If I takeLight 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 wingsPsalm 18:10, 19:6; Malachi 4:2 dwellPsalm 74:16, 74:17; Isaiah 24:14-16Reciprocal2 Samuel 22:11 - upon the; Job 11:9 - longer; 38:13 - take; Psalm 55:6 - General; 61:2 - From; 104:3 - walketh; Amos 9:3 - hid Verse 10Psalm 63:8, 73:23, 143:9, 143:10; Isaiah 41:13ReciprocalJob 11:9 - longer; Psalm 61:2 - From; 104:20 - makest; 119:117 - Hold Verse 11SurelyPsalm 10:11-13, 94:7; Job 22:12-14; Isaiah 29:15; Jeremiah 23:24 even the nightJob 12:22ReciprocalNumbers 32:23 - be sure your sin; 1 Kings 3:20 - midnight; Job 22:14 - General; 26:6 - Hell; 34:22 - no; Ezekiel 16:36 - and thy; Daniel 2:22 - he knoweth; Habakkuk 3:1 - is there Verse 12the darknessExodus 14:20, 20:21; Job 26:6, 34:22; Daniel 2:22; Habakkuk 3:1 hideth notHeb. darkeneth notthe darknessetc. Heb. as is the darkness, so is the lightReciprocalJob 12:22 - discovereth; 13:20 - hide myself; 22:14 - General; Ezekiel 16:36 - and thy; Matthew 6:4 - seeth Verse 13For thouJob 10:9-12 covered mePsalm 22:9, 22:10, 71:6; Job 31:15; Isaiah 44:2, 46:3; Jeremiah 1:5ReciprocalJob 3:11 - when I came; Psalm 100:3 - it is he; 139:15 - when I; Isaiah 44:24 - and he; Romans 1:20 - from the; 1 Corinthians 12:17 - General Verse 14for I am fearfullyGenesis 1:26, 1:27 marvellousPsalm 92:4, 92:5, 104:24, 111:2; Job 5:9; Revelation 15:3 right wellHeb. greatlyReciprocalGenesis 2:7 - formed man; Job 10:10 - poured; 31:15 - did not one fashion us in the womb; Psalm 98:1 - for he; 119:73 - Thy hands; Ecclesiastes 11:5 - nor; Mark 7:37 - were; Luke 9:43 - amazed Verse 15substanceor, strength, or bodywhen IPsalm 139:13; Job 10:9-11; Exodus 11:5 in the lowestPsalm 63:9; Ephesians 4:9ReciprocalGenesis 2:7 - formed man; Psalm 22:9 - that took; 71:6 - thou art; Ecclesiastes 11:5 - nor; Ephesians 4:16 - fitly; Colossians 2:19 - by Verse 16in thy bookPsalm 56:8; Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12 all my membersHeb. all of themwhich in continuance were fashionedor, what days they should be fashionedReciprocalExodus 32:32 - blot me; Psalm 22:9 - that took; 71:6 - thou art; Ephesians 4:16 - fitly; Colossians 2:19 - by Verse 17preciousPsalm 40:5; Proverbs 8:31; Isaiah 55:8, 55:9; Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 3:9, 3:10 how greatPsalm 31:19, 36:7ReciprocalGenesis 24:63 - to meditate; Psalm 63:6 - General; 68:19 - daily; 71:15 - I know; 92:5 - thoughts; 104:34 - meditation; 106:2 - utter; 119:148 - eyes; 147:5 - his understanding is infinite Verse 18they are morePsalm 40:12 when I awake139:3, 3:5, 16:8-11, 17:15, 63:6, 63:7; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:10ReciprocalGenesis 24:63 - to meditate; Job 5:9 - without number; Psalm 40:5 - thoughts; 71:15 - I know; 73:23 - Nevertheless; 104:34 - meditation; 106:2 - utter; 119:55 - night; 119:148 - eyes; 147:5 - his understanding is infinite; Habakkuk 1:9 - they shall gather Verse 19SurelyPsalm 5:6, 9:17, 55:23, 64:7, 94:23; Isaiah 11:4 depart fromPsalm 6:8, 119:115; Matthew 7:23, 25:41; 2 Corinthians 6:17ReciprocalGenesis 4:8 - Cain rose; 49:6 - come; 2 Chronicles 32:19 - spake; Esther 7:6 - this wicked; Psalm 26:9 - bloody men; 59:2 - save Verse 20for they speakPsalm 73:8, 73:9, 74:18, 74:22, 74:23; Job 21:14, 21:15; Isaiah 37:23, 37:28, 37:29; Jude 1:15; Revelation 13:6 thinePsalm 2:1-3; Exodus 20:7ReciprocalLeviticus 24:16 - blasphemeth; Deuteronomy 5:11 - General; 2 Chronicles 32:19 - spake Verse 21Do not IPsalm 15:4, 31:6; 2 Chronicles 19:2; Revelation 2:2, 2:6 and am notPsalm 119:136, 119:158; Jeremiah 13:17; Mark 3:5; Luke 19:41; Romans 9:1-3ReciprocalLeviticus 11:10 - they shall be; Numbers 11:10 - Moses; 1 Kings 11:2 - Solomon; 22:4 - I am as thou; 2 Chronicles 18:3 - I am as thou; Job 10:7 - Thou knowest; Psalm 26:5 - hated; Proverbs 29:27 - General; Ecclesiastes 3:8 - time to love; Amos 5:15 - Hate; Micah 3:2 - love; Matthew 5:43 - and hate; 2 Corinthians 6:14 - for Verse 22hate themPsalm 101:3-8; Luke 14:26ReciprocalLeviticus 11:10 - they shall be; 1 Kings 22:4 - I am as thou; 2 Chronicles 19:2 - Shouldest; Psalm 26:5 - hated; Amos 5:15 - Hate; Micah 3:2 - love; Matthew 5:43 - and hate; 2 Corinthians 6:14 - for; Revelation 2:6 - that Verse 23Search mePsalm 139:1, 26:2 knowDeuteronomy 8:2, 8:16; Job 31:6; Proverbs 17:3; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2, 3:3; 1 Peter 1:7ReciprocalExodus 33:5 - I may; 2 Chronicles 32:31 - to try him; Job 9:21 - yet would; 10:2 - show me; 13:9 - search; 13:23 - make me; 34:21 - General; 34:32 - which; Psalm 11:5 - trieth; 19:12 - secret; 77:6 - and; Proverbs 4:23 - Keep; 12:5 - thoughts; Jeremiah 12:3 - knowest; 17:10 - the Lord; 20:12 - that; Lamentations 3:40 - search; Luke 9:47 - perceiving; John 3:21 - he that; 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine Verse 24And seePsalm 7:3, 7:4, 17:3; Proverbs 28:26; Jeremiah 17:9, 17:10 wicked wayHeb. way of pain, or grief, Habakkuk 3:1, 3:1 and leadPsalm 5:8, 25:8, 25:9, 119:1, 119:32, 143:8, 143:10 the wayMatthew 7:14; John 14:6; Colossians 2:6Reciprocal2 Chronicles 32:31 - to try him; Job 9:21 - yet would; 10:2 - show me; 34:32 - which; Psalm 11:5 - trieth; 19:12 - secret; 26:2 - General; 31:3 - lead; 77:6 - and; Proverbs 4:23 - Keep; 15:24 - way; Lamentations 3:40 - search; John 3:21 - he that; 2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine; Revelation 14:6 - everlasting