Psalm 139 (NASB2020)

Psalm 139

God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

1Lord, You have searched me and known me.

2You know 139:2 Lit my sittingwhen I sit down and 139:2 Lit my risingwhen I get up;

You understand my thought from far away.

3You 139:3 Lit winnowscrutinize my 139:3 Or journeyingpath and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 139:4 Lit For there is notEven before there is a word on my tongue,

Behold, Lord, You know it all.

5You have encircled me behind and in front,

And placed Your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is too high, I cannot comprehend it.

7¶Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8If I ascend to heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in 139:8 I.e., the netherworldSheol, behold, You are there.

9 If I take up the wings of the dawn,

If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

10Even there Your hand will lead me,

And Your right hand will take hold of me.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will 139:11 Lit bruise; some commentators coveroverwhelm me,

And the light around me will be night,”

12Even darkness is not dark 139:12 Lit fromto You,

And the night is as bright as the day.

Darkness and light are alike to You.

13¶For You created my innermost parts;

You wove me in my mother’s womb.

14I will give thanks to You, because 139:14 Some ancient versions You are fearfully wonderfulI am awesomely and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works,

And my soul knows it very well.

15My 139:15 Lit bones wereframe was not hidden from You

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully formed in the depths of the earth;

16Your eyes have seen my formless substance;

And in Your book were written

All the days that were ordained for me,

When as yet there was not one of them.

17¶How precious also are Your thoughts for me, God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the sand.

When I awake, I am still with You.

19¶If only You would put the wicked to death, God;

Leave me, you men of bloodshed.

20For they speak 139:20 Or ofagainst You wickedly,

And Your enemies 139:20 Some mss lift themselves up against Youtake Your name in vain.

21Do I not hate those who hate You, Lord?

And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

22I hate them with the utmost hatred;

They have become my enemies.

23¶Search me, God, and know my heart;

Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts;

24And see if there is any 139:24 Lit way of painhurtful way in me,

And lead me in the everlasting way.

Understand Psalm 139

A verse-by-verse study of Psalm 139: what the chapter is doing, and what three commentaries say about it. Written to be readable if this is new to you.

Read the Psalm 139 commentary