SEARCH ME, O GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART
Key verse: 23,24
NIV
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 You have searched me,(A) Lord,
and you know(B) me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;(C)
you perceive my thoughts(D) from afar.
3 You discern my going out(E) and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.(F)
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.(G)
5 You hem me in(H) behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,(I)
too lofty(J) for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee(K) from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens,(L) you are there;
if I make my bed(M) 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,(N)
your right hand(O) 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(P) to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;(Q)
you knit me together(R) in my mother’s womb.(S)
14 I praise you(T) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,(U)
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made(V) in the secret place,
when I was woven together(W) in the depths of the earth.(X)
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained(Y) for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a](Z) God!(AA)
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,(AB)
they would outnumber the grains of sand(AC)—
when I awake,(AD) I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!(AE)
Away from me,(AF) you who are bloodthirsty!(AG)
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries(AH) misuse your name.(AI)
21 Do I not hate those(AJ) who hate you, Lord,
and abhor(AK) those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.(AL)
23 Search me,(AM) God, and know my heart;(AN)
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way(AO) in me,
and lead me(AP) in the way everlasting.
Footnotes
- Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me
Cross references
- Psalm 139:1 : S Ps 17:3; Ro 8:27
- Psalm 139:1 : Ps 44:21
- Psalm 139:2 : 2Ki 19:27
- Psalm 139:2 : Ps 94:11; Pr 24:12; Jer 12:3
- Psalm 139:3 : 2Ki 19:27
- Psalm 139:3 : S Job 31:4
- Psalm 139:4 : S Heb 4:13
- Psalm 139:5 : S 1Sa 25:16; Ps 32:10; 34:7; 125:2
- Psalm 139:6 : S Ps 131:1
- Psalm 139:6 : Ro 11:33
- Psalm 139:7 : Jer 23:24; Jnh 1:3
- Psalm 139:8 : Dt 30:12-15; Am 9:2-3
- Psalm 139:8 : Job 17:13
- Psalm 139:10 : Ps 23:3
- Psalm 139:10 : Ps 108:6; Isa 41:10
- Psalm 139:12 : Job 34:22; Da 2:22
- Psalm 139:13 : Ps 119:73
- Psalm 139:13 : S Job 10:11
- Psalm 139:13 : Isa 44:2, 24; 46:3; 49:5; Jer 1:5
- Psalm 139:14 : Ps 119:164; 145:10
- Psalm 139:14 : S Job 40:19
- Psalm 139:15 : Ecc 11:5
- Psalm 139:15 : S Job 10:11
- Psalm 139:15 : S Ps 63:9
- Psalm 139:16 : S Job 33:29; S Ps 90:12
- Psalm 139:17 : S Ps 92:5
- Psalm 139:17 : S Job 5:9
- Psalm 139:18 : Ps 40:5
- Psalm 139:18 : S Job 29:18
- Psalm 139:18 : S Ps 3:5
- Psalm 139:19 : Ps 5:6; Isa 11:4
- Psalm 139:19 : S Ps 6:8
- Psalm 139:19 : S Ps 59:2
- Psalm 139:20 : S Ps 65:7
- Psalm 139:20 : S Dt 5:11
- Psalm 139:21 : 2Ch 19:2; Ps 31:6; 119:113
- Psalm 139:21 : S Ps 26:5
- Psalm 139:22 : Mt 5:43
- Psalm 139:23 : Job 31:6
- Psalm 139:23 : S 1Sa 16:7; S 1Ch 29:17; S Ps 7:9; Pr 17:3; Jer 11:20; S Rev 2:23
- Psalm 139:24 : Jer 25:5; 36:3
- Psalm 139:24 : Ps 5:8; 23:2; 143:10
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Search Me, O God, and Know My Heart
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.139 O Lord, you have (A)searched me and known me!
2 You (B)know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you (C)discern my thoughts from afar.
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, (D)you know it altogether.
5 You (E)hem me in, behind and before,
and (F)lay your hand upon me.
6 (G)Such knowledge is (H)too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 (I)Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where (J)shall I flee from your presence?
8 (K)If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
(L)If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall (M)lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, (N)“Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 (O)even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you (P)formed my inward parts;
you (Q)knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
(R)Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 (S)My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in (T)the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your (U)book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your (V)thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 (W)If I would count them, they are more than (X)the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would (Y)slay the wicked, O God!
O (Z)men of blood, (AA)depart from me!
20 They (AB)speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies (AC)take your name in vain.[b]
21 (AD)Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not (AE)loathe those who (AF)rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
(AG)Try me and know my thoughts![c]
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and (AH)lead me in (AI)the way everlasting![d]
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Footnotes
- Psalm 139:14 Or for I am fearfully set apart
- Psalm 139:20 Hebrew lacks your name
- Psalm 139:23 Or cares
- Psalm 139:24 Or in the ancient way (compare Jeremiah 6:16)
Cross references
- Psalm 139:1 : Jer. 12:3; See Ps. 7:9; 17:3; 44:21
- Psalm 139:2 : 2 Kgs. 19:27; Lam. 3:63
- Psalm 139:2 : [Job 14:16; 31:4; Matt. 9:4; John 2:24, 25]
- Psalm 139:4 : Heb. 4:13
- Psalm 139:5 : Job 19:8
- Psalm 139:5 : Job 9:33
- Psalm 139:6 : Rom. 11:33
- Psalm 139:6 : Job 42:3
- Psalm 139:7 : [Jer. 23:24]
- Psalm 139:7 : Jonah 1:3
- Psalm 139:8 : [Amos 9:2]
- Psalm 139:8 : [Job 26:6]
- Psalm 139:10 : ver. 24; Ps. 23:3
- Psalm 139:11 : [Job 22:14]
- Psalm 139:12 : Job 34:22; [Dan. 2:22]
- Psalm 139:13 : Deut. 32:6
- Psalm 139:13 : [Job 10:11]
- Psalm 139:14 : See Ps. 72:18
- Psalm 139:15 : [Job 10:8-10; Eccles. 11:5]
- Psalm 139:15 : Ps. 63:9
- Psalm 139:16 : Ps. 56:8
- Psalm 139:17 : Ps. 92:5
- Psalm 139:18 : Ps. 40:5
- Psalm 139:18 : Gen. 22:17
- Psalm 139:19 : Isa. 11:4; [Ps. 9:17]
- Psalm 139:19 : Ps. 5:6
- Psalm 139:19 : See Ps. 6:8
- Psalm 139:20 : [Jude 15]
- Psalm 139:20 : Ex. 20:7
- Psalm 139:21 : See Ps. 26:5
- Psalm 139:21 : Ps. 119:158
- Psalm 139:21 : Ps. 59:1
- Psalm 139:23 : Ps. 26:2
- Psalm 139:24 : ver. 10
- Psalm 139:24 : [Jer. 6:16; 18:15]
139 O Lord, you have (A)searched me and known me!
2 You (B)know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you (C)discern my thoughts from afar.
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, (D)you know it altogether.
5 You (E)hem me in, behind and before,
and (F)lay your hand upon me.
6 (G)Such knowledge is (H)too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 (I)Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where (J)shall I flee from your presence?
8 (K)If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
(L)If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall (M)lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, (N)“Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 (O)even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you (P)formed my inward parts;
you (Q)knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a]
(R)Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 (S)My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in (T)the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your (U)book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your (V)thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 (W)If I would count them, they are more than (X)the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would (Y)slay the wicked, O God!
O (Z)men of blood, (AA)depart from me!
20 They (AB)speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies (AC)take your name in vain.[b]
21 (AD)Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not (AE)loathe those who (AF)rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
(AG)Try me and know my thoughts![c]
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and (AH)lead me in (AI)the way everlasting![d]
Footnotes
- Psalm 139:14 Or for I am fearfully set apart
- Psalm 139:20 Hebrew lacks your name
- Psalm 139:23 Or cares
- Psalm 139:24 Or in the ancient way (compare Jeremiah 6:16)
Cross references
- Psalm 139:1 : Jer. 12:3; See Ps. 7:9; 17:3; 44:21
- Psalm 139:2 : 2 Kgs. 19:27; Lam. 3:63
- Psalm 139:2 : [Job 14:16; 31:4; Matt. 9:4; John 2:24, 25]
- Psalm 139:4 : Heb. 4:13
- Psalm 139:5 : Job 19:8
- Psalm 139:5 : Job 9:33
- Psalm 139:6 : Rom. 11:33
- Psalm 139:6 : Job 42:3
- Psalm 139:7 : [Jer. 23:24]
- Psalm 139:7 : Jonah 1:3
- Psalm 139:8 : [Amos 9:2]
- Psalm 139:8 : [Job 26:6]
- Psalm 139:10 : ver. 24; Ps. 23:3
- Psalm 139:11 : [Job 22:14]
- Psalm 139:12 : Job 34:22; [Dan. 2:22]
- Psalm 139:13 : Deut. 32:6
- Psalm 139:13 : [Job 10:11]
- Psalm 139:14 : See Ps. 72:18
- Psalm 139:15 : [Job 10:8-10; Eccles. 11:5]
- Psalm 139:15 : Ps. 63:9
- Psalm 139:16 : Ps. 56:8
- Psalm 139:17 : Ps. 92:5
- Psalm 139:18 : Ps. 40:5
- Psalm 139:18 : Gen. 22:17
- Psalm 139:19 : Isa. 11:4; [Ps. 9:17]
- Psalm 139:19 : Ps. 5:6
- Psalm 139:19 : See Ps. 6:8
- Psalm 139:20 : [Jude 15]
- Psalm 139:20 : Ex. 20:7
- Psalm 139:21 : See Ps. 26:5
- Psalm 139:21 : Ps. 119:158
- Psalm 139:21 : Ps. 59:1
- Psalm 139:23 : Ps. 26:2
- Psalm 139:24 : ver. 10
- Psalm 139:24 : [Jer. 6:16; 18:15]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Where can I go from your Spirit? (1-12)
Some people are good at hiding from difficult jobs and demanding people--even in the age of beepers! No one, however, can hide from God. He knows our inmost thoughts. He knows us better than we know ourselves. His Spirit is with us when we climb to the heights or when we sink to the depths. God knows us because he loves us. His purpose is to bless us, to make our lives useful and joyful.
2. Your created me (13-18)
My existence is not an accident. God personally created me for his own good purpose (Eph 2:1
). My life has meaning when I fulfill God's purpose for me. God himself is at work in the womb of each mother to create a human being in his image.
3. I hate those who hate you, Lord (19-24)
David loved God--so he hated those who hate God. David did not know himself. I do not know myself, either, so I asked God to search and test my heart.
Prayer: Lord, search me and know my heart and lead me in the way everlasting.
One Word: God created me to serve him
