Psalm 139:3 | New International Version

New International Version

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts,^[1] God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand – when I awake, I am still with you. 19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

English Standard Version

Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart

1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have searched me and known me! (Ps 7:9; Ps 17:3; Ps 44:21; Jer 12:3)

Ps 7:9Ps 17:3Ps 44:21Jer 12:3

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. (2Ki 19:27; Job 14:16; Job 31:4; La 3:63; Mt 9:4; Joh 2:24)

2Ki 19:27Job 14:16Job 31:4La 3:63Mt 9:4Joh 2:24

3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. (Heb 4:13) 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. (Job 9:33; Job 19:8) 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. (Job 42:3; Ro 11:33) 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? (Jer 23:24; Jon 1:3) 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (Job 26:6; Am 9:2) 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Ps 23:3; Ps 139:24) 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” (Job 22:14) 12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. (Job 34:22; Da 2:22) 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. (De 32:6; Job 10:11) 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.^[1] Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Ps 72:18) 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. (Job 10:8; Ps 63:9; Ec 11:5) 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Ps 56:8) 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Ps 92:5) 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. (Ge 22:17; Ps 40:5) 19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! (Ps 5:6; Ps 6:8; Ps 9:17; Isa 11:4)

Ps 5:6Ps 6:8Ps 9:17Isa 11:4

20 They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain.^[2] (Ex 20:7; Jud 1:15) 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? (Ps 26:5; Ps 59:1; Ps 119:158) 22 I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!^[3] (Ps 26:2) 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!^[4] (Ps 139:10; Jer 6:16; Jer 18:15)