Psalms 139:1-9

1 in finem psalmus David

2 eripe me Domine ab homine malo a viro iniquo eripe me

3 qui cogitaverunt iniquitates in corde tota die constituebant proelia

4 acuerunt linguam suam sicut serpentis venenum aspidum sub labiis eorum diapsalma

5 custodi me Domine de manu peccatoris ab hominibus iniquis eripe me qui cogitaverunt subplantare gressus meos

6 absconderunt superbi laqueum mihi et funes extenderunt in laqueum iuxta iter scandalum posuerunt mihi diapsalma

7 dixi Domino Deus meus es tu exaudi Domine vocem deprecationis meae

8 Domine Domine virtus salutis meae obumbrasti super caput meum in die belli

9 non tradas Domine desiderio meo peccatori cogitaverunt contra me ne derelinquas me ne forte exaltentur diapsalma

Psalms 139:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. This psalm was written by David, when he lay under the reproach and calumnies of men, who laid false things to his charge; things he was not conscious of either in the time of Saul's persecution of him, or when his son Absalom rebelled against him: and herein he appeals to the heart searching and rein trying God for his innocence; and, when settled on his throne, delivered it to the master of music, to make use of it on proper occasions. According to the Syriac title of the psalm, the occasion of it was Shimei, the son of Gera, reproaching and cursing him as a bloody man, 2 Samuel 16:5. Theodoret takes it to be a prophecy of Josiah, and supposes that he is represented as speaking throughout the psalm. Aben Ezra observes, that this is the most glorious and excellent psalm in all the book: a very excellent one it is: but whether the most excellent, it is hard to say. It treats of some of the most glorious of the divine perfections; omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. Arama says, the argument of it is God's particular knowledge of men, and his providence over their affairs.