Psalm 139 verses 1 to 6
Verse 1. O Lord, thou hast searched me] chakartani;
thou hast investigated me; thou hast thoroughly acquainted thyself
with my whole soul and conduct.
Verse 2. My downsitting and mine uprising] Even these
inconsiderable and casual things are under thy continual notice. I
cannot so much as take a seat, or leave it, without being marked
by thee.
Thou understandest my thought] lerei, "my cogitation."
This word is Chaldee, see Da 2:29, 30.
Afar off.] While the figment is forming that shall produce them.
Verse 3. Thou compassest my path] zeritha thou dost
winnow, ventilate, or sift my path; and my lying down, ribi,
my lair, my bed.
And art acquainted] Thou treasurest up. This is the import of
sachan. Thou hast the whole number of my ways, and the steps
I took in them.
Verse 4. There is not a word in my tongue] Although ( ki)
there be not a word in my tongue, behold O Jehovah, thou knowest
the whole of it, that is, thou knowest all my words before they
are uttered, as thou knowest all my thoughts while as yet they are
unformed.
Verse 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before]
achor vekodam tsartani, "The hereafter and the past, thou hast
formed me." I think Bishop Horsley's emendation here is just,
uniting the two verses together. "Behold thou, O Jehovah, knowest
the whole, the hereafter and the past. Thou hast formed me, and
laid thy hand upon me."
Verse 6. Such knowledge is too wonderful] I think, with
Kennicott, that pelaiah daath should be read
peli haddaath, "THIS knowledge," mimmenni, "is
beyond or above me." This change is made by taking the he from
the end of pelaiah, which is really no word, and joining
it with daath; which, by giving it an article, makes it
demonstrative, haddaath, "THIS knowledge." This kind of
knowledge, God's knowledge, that takes in all things, and their
reasons, essences, tendencies, and issues, is far beyond me.
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