1 For the music director. A psalm of David. Lord, you have examined me from the inside out—you know everything about me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even when I'm a long way away. 3 You observe where I go and when I rest. You're familiar with everything I do. 4 Lord, you even know what I'm going to say before I say it. 5 You're always there—behind me, in front of me, and all around me. You place your caring hand on me. 6 This amazing knowledge you have is far beyond me, way beyond my understanding! 7 Where can I go that you're not already there? Where can I run to escape your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there. If I lie down in Sheol, look—you are there too! 9 If I were to fly away on wings of the dawn to the east; if I were to live on the far western shore of the sea, 10 even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would support me. 11 If I asked the darkness to hide me, and light to become night around me, 12 Even darkness would not be dark for you, and the night would be bright as day, for darkness is like light to you. 13 You made me from the inside out, shaping me in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you for making me in such an awesome and wonderful way. What you do is incredible—I realize this completely! 15 My growing body was not hidden from you as I was formed in secret, as I was intricately put together “in the depths of the earth.” 16 You saw me as an embryo, and in your book all my days were written down—the days that were made for me before any of them existed. 17 God, your thoughts are so valuable to me! Taken together, they can't be counted! 18 If I tried to count them, they would be more than every grain of sand. Yet when I awake I am still with you. 19 God, if you would only kill the wicked! Murderers, get away from me! 20 When they speak of you they're being deceptively evil. Since they are your enemies, they call on you in vain. 21 Lord, don't I hate those who hate you? I despise those who rebel against you! 22 I hate them with absolute hatred—they have become my enemies! 23 Examine me carefully, God, so you can be sure of my true feelings. Check me out so you can know what I really think. 24 Please show me if I'm following any kind of idol, and lead me along the path of eternal life.
Psalm 139 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
Cross references (24)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Hebrews 4:13; Jeremiah 12:3; Jeremiah 17:9–10; Psalm 44:21; Psalm 17:3
- 2 Matthew 9:4; 2 Kings 19:27; Isaiah 37:28; Psalm 94:11; Luke 9:47
- 3 Jeremiah 23:24; Job 31:4; Proverbs 5:20–21; Genesis 28:10–17; 2 Samuel 11:27
- 4 Hebrews 4:12–13; Psalm 19:14; Psalm 50:19–21; Matthew 12:35–37; Job 42:3
- 5 Psalm 34:7; Deuteronomy 33:27; Revelation 1:17; Job 23:8–9; Exodus 24:11
- 6 Romans 11:33; Job 42:3; Job 11:7–9; Job 26:14; Psalm 40:5
- 7 Jeremiah 23:23–24; Jonah 1:3; Jonah 1:10
- 8 Amos 9:2–4; Job 34:21–22; Jonah 2:2; Obadiah 4; Proverbs 15:11
- 9 Psalm 19:6; Psalm 74:16–17; Malachi 4:2
- 10 Psalm 23:3; Isaiah 41:13; Psalm 73:23; Psalm 63:8; Psalm 143:9–10
- 11 Job 12:22; Jeremiah 23:24; Psalm 94:7; Psalm 10:11–13; Job 22:12–14
- 12 Daniel 2:22; Job 34:22; Exodus 20:21; Hebrews 4:13; Job 26:6
- 13 Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 119:73; Isaiah 44:2; Job 31:15; Job 10:9–12
- 14 Genesis 1:26–27; Psalm 111:2; Psalm 104:24; Psalm 92:4–5; Psalm 40:5
- 15 Ecclesiastes 11:5; Psalm 139:13; Job 10:8–11; Psalm 63:9
- 16 Psalm 56:8; Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12
- 17 Psalm 40:5; Jeremiah 29:11; Isaiah 55:8–9; Psalm 92:5; Psalm 36:7
- 18 Psalm 3:5; Psalm 139:3; Psalm 40:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:10; Psalm 63:6–7
- 19 Psalm 5:6; Psalm 119:115; Isaiah 11:4; Psalm 9:17; Psalm 6:8
- 20 Jude 15; Exodus 20:7; Psalm 74:18; Psalm 2:1–3; Psalm 73:8–9
- 21 Psalm 119:158; Psalm 31:6; Revelation 2:2; 2 Chronicles 19:2; Psalm 26:5
- 22 Luke 14:26; Psalm 101:3–8
- 23 Psalm 26:2; Job 31:6; 1 Peter 1:7; Proverbs 17:3; Deuteronomy 8:2
- 24 Psalm 143:10; Jeremiah 17:9–10; Psalm 25:8–9; Psalm 119:32; Psalm 16:11
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The title of this Psalm is brief and simple, and need not detain us; since we know whose resemblance David wore, and since in him we recognise ourselves also, for we too are members of that Body. The whole title is, "To David himself." Let us see then, what is to David himself.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
If I ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I go away even to the uttermost parts of the earth, there is Thy right hand; if I make my bed in the abyss, there is Thy Spirit." Whither, then, shall any one go, or where shall he escape from Him who comprehends all things?
For whither fled they when they fled from Thy presence? Or where dost Thou not find them?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… have dared to circumscribe God's providence by the clouds and the heaven, and to alienate from God the things on earth; having forgotten the Psalm which says, If I go up into heaven, Thou art there, if I go down into hell, Thou art present.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
Yet the beholding of heaven and earth does not make us know God better than the attentive study of our being does; I am, says the Prophet, fearfully and wonderfully made; that is to say, in observing myself I have known Thy infinite wisdom.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)