Psalms 139

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 139

1¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].

2Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.

4For [there is] not a word in my tongue, [but], lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

5Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine 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?

8If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there].

9[If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].

13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.

15My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, 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.

19Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

20For they speak against thee wickedly, [and] thine enemies take [thy name] in vain.

21Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?

22I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalm 139 extols God's profound omniscience and omnipresence, revealing His intimate knowledge of David's every thought, action, and location. David marvels at being "fearfully and wonderfully made" by God in the womb, acknowledging His detailed involvement in his creation. The psalm concludes with David's plea for God to search his heart and lead him in the way everlasting, contrasting his devotion with the wicked.

Medium Summary

This psalm, attributed to David, begins by declaring God's comprehensive knowledge of the psalmist, knowing his sitting, rising, thoughts afar off, and all his ways before a word is spoken. David then contemplates God's inescapable omnipresence, asserting that neither heaven, hell, nor the farthest reaches of the sea can hide one from His Spirit or presence, as darkness itself is light to Him. The psalmist praises God for his intricate creation in the womb, acknowledging that his "substance" was known to God even in its unformed state. He expresses awe at God's precious and innumerable thoughts towards him. The psalm shifts to David's fervent desire for God to slay the wicked, whom he hates with a "perfect hatred" for their enmity against God. Finally, David humbly requests God to search his heart, test his thoughts, and guide him away from any wicked path into the "way everlasting."

Long Summary

Psalm 139 opens with David's profound declaration of God's intimate and exhaustive knowledge of him, emphasizing that the Lord has "searched me, and known me." He details this omniscience, stating that God knows his "downsitting and mine uprising," understands his thoughts from afar, encompasses his path and lying down, and is acquainted with all his ways. Before a word is even on his tongue, God knows it "altogether." David confesses that such knowledge is "too wonderful" and high for him to attain. The psalmist then transitions to God's omnipresence, posing rhetorical questions about fleeing from God's Spirit or presence. He asserts that God is present in heaven, in hell, and even if he were to take "the wings of the morning" to the "uttermost parts of the sea," God's hand would lead and hold him. Furthermore, darkness cannot conceal from God, for "the night shineth as the day," and darkness and light are alike to Him. David then praises God for his personal creation, acknowledging that God "possessed my reins" and "covered me in my mother's womb." He declares himself "fearfully and wonderfully made," with his "substance" not hidden from God even when "unperfect" and fashioned in secret, all his members written in God's book before they existed. He marvels at the preciousness and innumerable nature of God's thoughts towards him, more than the sand. The psalm takes a turn as David expresses his righteous indignation against the wicked, whom he desires God to slay, and whom he hates with a "perfect hatred" for their blasphemy and enmity against the Lord. He distances himself from these "bloody men." The psalm concludes with a deeply personal prayer, where David implores God to "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts." He asks God to reveal any "wicked way in me" and to "lead me in the way everlasting."

Core Concepts

  • Divine OmniscienceGod possesses complete and intimate knowledge of all things, including David's every thought, action, word, and the entirety of his life, even before it unfolds. This knowledge is described as "too wonderful" for human comprehension.
  • Divine OmnipresenceGod's Spirit and presence are inescapable, extending to all locations—heaven, hell, and the farthest reaches of the earth and sea. Darkness offers no concealment from Him, as night is as bright as day in His sight.
  • Intricate CreationThe psalmist praises God for his personal formation in the womb, declaring himself "fearfully and wonderfully made." God is depicted as intimately involved in shaping his "substance" and knowing all his members before they were fully formed.
  • God's Thoughts and CareDavid expresses profound awe and gratitude for God's thoughts towards him, describing them as precious and innumerable, exceeding the grains of sand. This highlights God's continuous and detailed care for His creation.
  • Hatred of WickednessThe psalmist declares a "perfect hatred" for those who are enemies of God, speak wickedly against Him, and take His name in vain. This reflects a zeal for God's honor and a rejection of unrighteousness.
  • Prayer for Self-Examination and GuidanceDavid concludes with a humble plea for God to "Search me" and "know my heart," to reveal any "wicked way" within him. He seeks divine guidance to be led in the "way everlasting," demonstrating a desire for purity and eternal righteousness.