BOOK 19 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Psalms 139

Psalms book home•Chapter 139 of 150•24 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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Psalms 139 Overview

David reflects on God's exhaustive knowledge, inescapable presence, formation in the womb, innumerable thoughts, hatred of God's enemies, and ends by inviting divine search and guidance.

PsalmsBook

139Chapter

24Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Psalms 139

Coming from

Psalm 138 centered on wholehearted thanks because god answers and exalts his word. Psalms is an anthology rather than a continuous chronological story, so the connection here is canonical and thematic.

In this chapter

David reflects on God's exhaustive knowledge, inescapable presence, formation in the womb, innumerable thoughts, hatred of God's enemies, and ends by inviting divine search and guidance.

Leads into

Psalm 140 turns to deliverance from violent and scheming men, continuing the Psalter’s arranged movement without requiring that the two psalms describe consecutive historical events.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Psalm 139 belongs to Book V of the Psalter (Psalms 107–150). The psalm affirms God's intimate knowledge of prenatal life. Its imprecatory lines should be read with the final self-examination, not as permission for personal hatred detached from God's cause.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

God knows, surrounds, and formed the psalmist completely.

Wisdom truth

In Psalm 139, godly wisdom evaluates life by the LORD’s revealed moral order rather than by appearances alone.

Creation truth

In Psalm 139, creation displays the LORD’s power, wisdom, ownership, and sustaining care.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Wisdom connection

James 1:5 directs those who lack wisdom to ask God, the giver of wisdom. This connection helps frame Psalm 139.

Creation connection

Genesis 1 presents God as Creator by sovereign word. This connection helps frame Psalm 139.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not turn a wisdom contrast in Psalm 139 into a mechanical formula that guarantees immediate earthly outcomes in every case.

Keep creation in context

Read Psalm 139 as inspired poetry about the Creator; do not force every image into a modern scientific diagram or a hidden symbolic code.

Read Psalms 139 watching for…

searched and known.

where flee.

formed inward parts.

thoughts precious.

search me.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-6David marvels that the LORD completely knows his thoughts, ways, and words 7-16There is nowhere to flee from God’s presence, and God formed David in the womb 17-24God’s thoughts are precious, and David asks to be searched and led in the everlasting way

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

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

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

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

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thine 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.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Psalms 139:7

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