Psalms
Psalm 139
KJV
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.
Overview
Psalm 139 moves from being fully known by God, through the impossibility of escaping divine presence, to wonder at hidden formation and God’s innumerable thoughts. It then turns sharply to violent enemy language before ending by asking God to search the speaker’s own heart and lead him in the everlasting way.
Setting and context
A Davidic psalm of divine knowledge, presence, creaturely formation, conflict, and self-examination. Its difficult enemy language must be read without turning prayer into permission for hatred or violence.
Themes
Known completely by God · No place outside God’s presence · Formed and seen before birth · God’s thoughts beyond counting · Difficult enemy and hatred language · Search me and lead me
Reflection
Receive divine knowledge as presence rather than human surveillance, affirm embodied dignity without weaponizing womb language in modern political disputes, refuse private violence or hatred toward modern groups, and let the final prayer turn moral scrutiny inward toward repentance and guidance.
Reading notes
Divine omniscience is not a delegation of intrusive power to human authorities. The passage is poetic theological confession and should not be made to carry claims it does not explicitly adjudicate. The difficult enemy language is not permission for private violence, harassment, hate groups, or mapping ancient opponents onto modern peoples.
Key passages
Psalm 139:1: God’s knowledge is personal and complete. Psalm 139:14: Embodied life is received with wonder. Psalm 139:23–24: The psalm ends by turning scrutiny toward the speaker’s own heart.
Questions readers ask
Does Psalm 139:19–22 command hatred or violence? No. The enemy language is prayer within poetic conflict, not authorization to hate or harm modern people.