Psalms139
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1 O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night;
12 Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, And curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts;
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
Study
Psalms 139Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 139. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God knows all things. (1–6). He is every where present. (7–16). The psalmist's hatred to sin, and desire to be led aright. (17–24).
vv1-6
God has perfect knowledge of us, and all our thoughts and actions are open before him. It is more profitable to meditate on Divine truths, applying them to our own cases, and with hearts lifted to God in prayer, than with a curious or disputing frame of mind. That God knows all things, is omniscient; that he is every where, is omnipresent; are truths acknowledged by all, yet they are seldom rightly believed in by mankind. God takes strict notice of every step we take, every right step and every by step. He knows what rule we walk by, what end we walk toward, what company we walk with. When I am withdrawn from all company, thou knowest what I have in my heart. There is not a vain word, not a good word, but thou knowest from what thought it came, and with what design it was uttered. Wherever we are, we are under the eye and hand of God. We cannot by searching find how God searches us out; nor do we know how we are known. Such thoughts should restrain us from sin.
vv7-16
We cannot see God, but he can see us. The psalmist did not desire to go from the Lord. Whither can I go? In the most distant corners of the world, in heaven, or in hell, I cannot go out of thy reach. No veil can hide us from God; not the thickest darkness. No disguise can save any person or action from being seen in the true light by him. Secret haunts of sin are as open before God as the most open villanies. On the other hand, the believer cannot be removed from the supporting, comforting presence of his Almighty Friend. Should the persecutor take his life, his soul will the sooner ascend to heaven. The grave cannot separate his body from the love of his Saviour, who will raise it a glorious body. No outward circumstances can separate him from his Lord. While in the path of duty, he may be happy in any situation, by the exercise of faith, hope, and prayer.
vv17-24
God's counsels concerning us and our welfare are deep, such as cannot be known. We cannot think how many mercies we have received from him. It would help to keep us in the fear of the Lord all the day long, if, when we wake in the morning, our first thoughts were of him: and how shall we admire and bless our God for his precious salvation, when we awake in the world of glory! Surely we ought not to use our members and senses, which are so curiously fashioned, as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. But our immortal and rational souls are a still more noble work and gift of God. Yet if it were not for his precious thoughts of love to us, our reason and our living for ever would, through our sins, prove the occasion of our eternal misery. How should we then delight to meditate on God's love to sinners in Jesus Christ, the sum of which exceeds all reckoning! Sin is hated, and sinners lamented, by all who fear the Lord. Yet while we shun them we should pray for them; with God their conversion and salvation are possible. As the Lord knows us thoroughly, and we are strangers to ourselves, we should earnestly desire and pray to be searched and proved by his word and Spirit. if there be any wicked way in me, let me see it; and do thou root it out of me. The way of godliness is pleasing to God, and profitable to us; and will end in everlasting life. It is the good old way. All the saints desire to be kept and led in this way, that they may not miss it, turn out of it, or tire in it.
Key Words
נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
חָקַר: properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine intimately
יָדַע: to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
בִּין: to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand
רֵעַ: a thought (as association of ideas)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
Cross References
Psalms 139All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
The depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God; unsearchable judgments.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? asks the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Though they dig into hell or climb to heaven, God's hand will take them.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel, saying, Who seeth us?
Supported by Matthew Poole
God revealeth deep and secret things; He knoweth what is in the darkness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Job describes being clothed with skin and flesh, fenced with bones and sinews in the womb.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Jonah attempts the futile task of fleeing from the presence of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry
There is no darkness nor shadow of death where workers of iniquity may hide.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Teach me to do thy will; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Refers to the 'lower parts of the earth', paralleling the womb/secret creation imagery.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's wonderful works and thoughts toward us cannot be reckoned up in order.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jehoshaphat is rebuked for helping the ungodly and loving them that hate the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole